Yokohama’s Mayoral Race: A Pritzker-Winning Architect, a Scandal-Hit Ex-Mayor and a Former JAL Mechanic
With the Yokohama mayoral election days away, early voting is running about 30% ahead of the same point in last year’s race. By October 11, a total of 156,359 voters had cast their ballots early, according to the city’s election administration commission — adding fresh momentum to a contest that features an unexpected candidate: Riken […] The post Yokohama’s Mayoral Race: A Pritzker-Winning…
Yokohama’s mayoral election is heating up as early voting reveals a 30% increase compared to the same point in last year’s race. The contest now features seven candidates, including an architect who won the prestigious 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize, a scandal-hit former mayor, and a former JAL mechanic.
Riken Yamamoto, the 81-year-old architect, has gained significant attention due to his accolade, despite having no prior political experience. He opposes a casino-integrated resort in Yokohama and supports the Green×Expo 2027 horticultural exposition. Yamamoto's campaign focuses on neighborhood association salons, free minibuses and mini-taxis, and improving transportation access for residents.
Atsumi Harasawa, a former JAL aircraft mechanic and lawyer, is another contender in the race. Harasawa, who opposes a casino resort, emphasizes workplace morale and disaster preparedness in her campaign. She also backs childcare and regional economic growth initiatives.
Ryusei Nakatani, a former JAL mechanic, entered politics at 27 as a member of the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly. His platform includes childbirth subsidies, free childcare, and free junior high school lunches. Nakatani opposes casino resorts and supports independent investigations into harassment allegations.
Makoto Asaka, a former systems engineer and mother, also opposes casino resorts. She focuses on public services, affordable housing, and cost-of-living relief, proposing free childcare, school lunches, better pay for care workers, and expanded healthcare support.
Yoko Fujikawa, a former Network Yokohama member and civic leader, opposes the casino proposal. Her campaign emphasizes citizen participation, transparency, and greater autonomy for the city's 18 wards. She suggests expanded housing and food assistance, free school meals, support for children with foreign roots, and multilingual services.
Finally, Tetsuya Fukuyama, an entrepreneur with multiple company successes, is making his second mayoral bid. Fukuyama, who opposes the casino resort, proposes startup support, local industries, and transparent municipal spending. He also calls for scrutiny of Green×Expo 2027 costs and policies addressing foreign residents.
Written by urgent.news from Tokyo Weekender's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
