Tomoko Oyamada joins Fukushima gubernatorial election race

Tomoko Oyamada, a 33-year-old member of the Japanese Communist Party, has announced her candidacy for the Fukushima gubernatorial election. Her platform focuses on protecting livelihoods against rising prices by advocating for free childcare and school lunches, as well as providing support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Oyamada is the sixth candidate to enter the race. The field currently includes incumbent Masao Uchibori, seeking a fourth term, along with Kunihiko Hasenuma, Jun Kanayama, Yudai Endo, and Hidemitsu Tsukagoshi. If the number of candidates remains at six, it will match the record high set in 2014. The election is scheduled to be officially announced on October 8, with voting taking place on October 25.