April 11, 2023

On April 9, the first half of the 2023 nationwide simultaneous local elections took place for 41 prefectural assemblies and 17 major city assemblies.

In the prefectural assembly elections, the Japanese Communist Party secured 75 seats and two JCP-backed candidates won seats. The total number of seats held by the JCP decreased by 22 from the previous election four years ago.

The JCP regained its assembly seat which the party lost in the previous election in Aichi Prefecture and increased its seats in eight prefectures. It, however, failed to retain seats in five prefectures. Women made up 57.3% of the successful JCP candidates.

In 17 major city assembly elections, the JCP won 93 seats, down 22 from the previous election.

The JCP Executive Committee on April 11 issued a statement regarding the election results and expressed its heartfelt thanks to voters’ support for the JCP as well as to JCP supporters, JCP supporters’ association members, and party members for their hard work.

The statement states that during the election campaign, JCP candidates pointed out that joint efforts between the JCP and local residents made various achievements, such as free medical care for children, free school meals, and zero-premium health insurance for children, and appealed to voters for their support. In addition, they explained the JCP’s diplomatic vision to build peace in East Asia and the dangerous nature of the Kishida government’s huge military buildup plan.

The JCP in its statement expressed its determination to continue working hard to achieve a major advance in the second half of local assembly elections to be held on April 23 across Japan.