Japan Press Weekly

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2015 August 5 - 11 TOP3 [JCP]

JCP candidate wins mayoral election in Hyogo

In the mayoral election of Ichikawa Town in Hyogo Prefecture held on August 9, a Japanese Communist Party candidate defeated the incumbent. With this, the number of JCP mayors in the prefecture increased to two.

Ichikawa Town, located in a mountainous region, has a population of about 12,000. The town has suffered from depopulation and its sewerage coverage ratio is the lowest in the prefecture. In addition, the incumbent mayor’s autocratic administrative approach has drawn criticism from local residents and municipal workers.

A local civic group seeking political reform asked JCP assemblyperson Iwami Takezo, who was the chairperson of the town assembly, to run in the mayoral election. Iwami accepted their request.

In the election campaign, Iwami presented a plan to improve the welfare program so that young people will continue to reside in the town. He also promised to promote a fair administration in cooperation with residents and town workers.

Before obtaining his seat in the assembly, Iwami had taught as a junior high school teacher for more than three decades. Learning about Iwami’s candidacy for the mayoralty, his former students and their parents expressed support for him and joined in his campaign.

The incumbent camp repeatedly claimed that if a JCP member is elected as mayor, the town will be unable to get subsidies from the central and prefectural governments. Countering this malicious propaganda, Shimada Masayoshi, a JCP member serving as head of the adjacent town of Fukusaki, stated that he has met various local demands by making use of various subsidies.

Informed of his victory, Iwami told reporters that with the aid of municipal employees, he will do his best for the sake of townspeople.

Past related article:
> JCP mayor reelected for 5th consecutive term [December 5, 2011]