Hanako Yamada wins second consecutive Yoshimoto Shinkigeki popularity election

The results of the ‘Yoshimoto Shinkigeki Member General Election 2026’ were announced on September 11 at the YES THEATER in Osaka. Hanako Yamada secured her second consecutive victory, earning 68,180 votes and maintaining a significant lead over the runner-up, Tamayo Shimada, who received 39,649 votes.

The election, which ran from July 29 to August 23, saw a total of approximately 680,000 votes cast. The event featured several notable shifts in rankings; for instance, former leader Yuji Yoshida fell to 13th place, causing a stir among the audience. Meanwhile, several performers maintained their positions from the previous year, including Succhi (3rd), Ai Sakai (4th), and Kenji Shimizu (5th).

General Manager Kanpei Ma, who initiated the election, noted the increasing importance of social media and YouTube in campaigning. Following the announcement, Yamada expressed her pride in her ‘overwhelming first place,’ while Shimada vowed to develop new strategies to challenge Yamada’s dominance in future elections.