May 20, 2025
An independent candidate backed by the Japanese Communist Party was elected mayor of Osaka’s Tadaoka Town on May 18.
Koreeda Ayako, 61, a former JCP town assembly member, became the first JCP member to be chosen as a municipal head in Osaka in 19 years.
The election took place as the former mayor, who is a member of the “Nippon Ishin no Kai” party, resigned over a bid-rigging scandal. Koreeda, with support from a civil organization in which the JCP takes part, won 2,367 votes, defeating two conservative rivals. The voter turnout rate stood at 50.64%, up nearly 5% from the previous election.
In her victory speech, Koreeda said, “Residents’ earnest desire to change the town government’s policies led to the election outcome,” and expressed her determination to work hard to fulfill her election promises, including cancelling the plan to construct an industrial waste incineration plant in the town and dealing with the ongoing cost of living crisis by using two billion yen in the town’s funds to provide relief.
In the town assembly by-election held on the same day, JCP candidate Kosako Teruko secured a seat.
Koreeda Ayako, 61, a former JCP town assembly member, became the first JCP member to be chosen as a municipal head in Osaka in 19 years.
The election took place as the former mayor, who is a member of the “Nippon Ishin no Kai” party, resigned over a bid-rigging scandal. Koreeda, with support from a civil organization in which the JCP takes part, won 2,367 votes, defeating two conservative rivals. The voter turnout rate stood at 50.64%, up nearly 5% from the previous election.
In her victory speech, Koreeda said, “Residents’ earnest desire to change the town government’s policies led to the election outcome,” and expressed her determination to work hard to fulfill her election promises, including cancelling the plan to construct an industrial waste incineration plant in the town and dealing with the ongoing cost of living crisis by using two billion yen in the town’s funds to provide relief.
In the town assembly by-election held on the same day, JCP candidate Kosako Teruko secured a seat.
