Incumbent Ko Tanaka Re-elected Mayor of Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture
In the mayoral election held on April 19, 2026, in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture, incumbent independent candidate Ko Tanaka (69) secured re-election. He defeated two newcomers: former city council member Yuna Hotoda (39) and real estate manager Kensuke Yamazaki (51). Tanaka received 90,576 votes, significantly outpacing Hotoda's 33,430 and Yamazaki's 2,892. The voter turnout was 31.97%, a decrease from the previous election's 38.75%, with 403,621 eligible voters participating. Tanaka campaigned on his first-term achievements, including a 96.9% completion rate for projects like rebuilding the Clean Center and funeral hall. He also promised enhanced child-rearing support, the establishment of distinctive municipal high schools, and infrastructure improvements aimed at achieving core city status upon reaching a population of 500,000. His victory was bolstered by support from the majority of LDP-affiliated city councilors and the Komeito party. In contrast, Hotoda focused on volunteer-driven campaigns advocating for free medical expenses up to age 18, tax reductions, and safer streets through security cameras and utility pole removal, but failed to unseat the incumbent.
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Incumbent Ko Tanaka Re-elected Mayor of Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture
In the mayoral election held on April 19, 2026, in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture, incumbent independent candidate Ko Tanaka (69) secured re-election. He defeated two newcomers: former city council member Yuna Hotoda (39) and real estate manager Kensuke Yamazaki (51). Tanaka received 90,576 votes, significantly outpacing Hotoda's 33,430 and Yamazaki's 2,892. The voter turnout was 31.97%, a decrease from the previous election's 38.75%, with 403,621 eligible voters participating. Tanaka campaigned on his first-term achievements, including a 96.9% completion rate for projects like rebuilding the Clean Center and funeral hall. He also promised enhanced child-rearing support, the establishment of distinctive municipal high schools, and infrastructure improvements aimed at achieving core city status upon reaching a population of 500,000. His victory was bolstered by support from the majority of LDP-affiliated city councilors and the Komeito party. In contrast, Hotoda focused on volunteer-driven campaigns advocating for free medical expenses up to age 18, tax reductions, and safer streets through security cameras and utility pole removal, but failed to unseat the incumbent.
asahi