The 2024 Kyoto mayoral election was held on 4 February 2024. Incumbent mayor Daisaku Kadokawa did not run for a fifth term. Former Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Koji Matsui won by a slim margin of 3.48% against challengers Kazuhito Fukuyama, Shōei Murayama, and Shinji Ninoyu, two of which had run in the previous 2020 election.
Overview.
Daisaku Kadokawa opted against running for a fifth term. This was the first time since the 2008 election that no incumbent had run for another term. Koji Matsui, who had previously served as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary in the Hatoyama Cabinet from 2009 to 2010, was supported by a coalition of governmental and non-governmental political groups, including the LDP, CDP, Komeito, and the DPP. Kazuhito Fukuyama, who had run for mayor in 2020 with the JCPs backing, received support from the party again. Also running was former 2020 and 2008 candidate Shōei Murayama, Independent and former Kyoto Prefectural Assembly member Shinji Ninoyu, and Heian Conservative Party candidate Yu Kouke.
Campaigning.
Campaigning centered around the overtourism of Kyoto and the financial crisis the city was facing. Matsui campaigned utilizing solutions to the tourism issue, including introducing a new two-tiered transportation system for tourists and non-tourists. He also advertised via using his advancements as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary. The LDP was heavily disengaged from his campaign, and he primarily utilized CDP opposition leaders, including Kenta Izumi, who served as a personal friend of Matsui. Fukuyama utilized the LDP endorsement of Matsui to attack him by highlighting the slush fund scandal the party had been facing, and also advertising the construction of a new social welfare system and attempting to deal with both the budget crisis and overtourism as well.
Candidates.
In order of notification of candidacy:
References.
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