Various Japanese local elections held on October 25

Multiple local elections across Japan concluded on October 25, 2026, resulting in several key leadership changes and re-elections.

In Niigata City, incumbent Hayato Nakahara secured a third term, defeating two newcomers. Nakahara expressed his commitment to addressing population decline and revitalizing the city's industry.

In Naha, Okinawa, Satoru Chinen won re-election as mayor. Chinen plans to focus on economic policies to combat rising prices, including a proposed public-private partnership model to function like a trading company.

In Ritto, Shiga Prefecture, newcomer Manabu Kunori unseated the incumbent, Ken Takemura, to win the mayoral election as an independent.

Other notable regional developments include the upcoming Tokushima gubernatorial election, where a Reconstruction Agency official is expected to announce his candidacy, potentially leading to a three-way contest. Additionally, the Noto Town council election experienced significant delays in vote counting due to the high number of first-time election observers.