2007 Japanese unified local elections


The 16th unified local elections in Japan took place in April 2007. In the first phase on April 8, 2007 13 governors, 44 prefectural assemblies as well as four mayors and 15 assemblies in cities designated by government ordinance were elected. In the second phase on April 22, 2007 mayors and/or assemblies in hundreds of cities, special wards, towns and villages were up for election. Additionally, by-elections for the national Diet were held in Fukushima and Okinawa on April 22.

Elections on April 8

Elections with national media coverage included the mayoral races in five prefectural capitals, in the bankrupt city of Yūbari, Hokkaidō, and in Tōyō, Kōchi where an opponent of a planned site for highly radioactive waste won the election.
The House of Councillors by-elections were won by one LDP-Kōmeitō supported candidate as replacement for OSMP Councillor Keiko Itokazu, and one Democrat as replacement for Democrat Yūhei Satō, producing a net gain of one seat for the ruling centre-right coalition three months before the regular House of Councillors election of 2007.