The scandal-hit ruling Liberal Democratic Party claimed victory in the Kyoto mayoral election on Feb. 4 but lost in a key poll in its traditional stronghold of Gunma Prefecture.

Akira Ogawa, 41, an independent, defeated incumbent Ryu Yamamoto, 64, to become the first female mayor of Maebashi, the capital of Gunma Prefecture.

Ogawa garnered 60,486 votes against 46,387 for Yamamoto, also an independent who was seeking a fourth term.

Voter turnout was 39.39 percent, down 3.77 percentage points from the previous election.

Ogawa, a former Gunma prefectural assembly member, was endorsed by Rengo Gunma (Japanese Trade Union Confederation in Gunma) and supported by a citizens group affiliated with the Japanese Communist Party.

After news reports projected her victory, Ogawa said, “There were more citizens who thought ‘we must change the current politics’ than I expected.”

Yamamoto was endorsed by the Gunma prefectural chapter of the LDP and the prefectural headquarters of junior coalition partner Komeito.

The LDP on the national level has been rocked by allegations of huge unreported political funds among its factions.

On the local level, Ogawa criticized recent bid-rigging scandals related to public works projects, which have led to the arrests of city officials.

She also took aim at Yamamoto’s long tenure in office, saying a renewal of the municipal administration was needed.

As for becoming Maebashi’s first female mayor, Ogawa said: “I believe this is the result of women taking action. I’d like to create an environment where both women and men can shine.”

She explained her plans to tackle initiatives related to child-rearing and support for people with disabilities.

Ogawa campaigned under the banner of a “citizens’ party” without seeking endorsement from major parties, such as the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

She held very few large gatherings, and instead canvassed backstreets and rural areas in her campaign vehicle to appeal for support.

“It’s not about political parties and organizations,” she said. “What’s important is the voice of the citizens. I will change Maebashi so that the citizens’ voices are heard.”

When asked about the impact of the LDP funding scandal on the election, she said, “Some citizens gave me harsh opinions about the politics-and-money scandal, but I don’t think political parties are relevant to local politics.

“I’d like to work for the city and its citizens beyond party lines.”

After the election results came in, Yamamoto apologized to his supporters gathered at his office.

“I could not widely communicate my message,” he said.

Although Yamamoto denied the LDP funding scandal led to his loss, a campaign staff member said, “We believe there was an impact from the fund scandal in the Diet.”

MATSUI PLAYS DOWN LDP AFFILIATION

In the Kyoto mayoral election, Koji Matsui, an independent endorsed by the LDP, CDP, Komeito and the Democratic Party for the People, defeated his four rivals.

Voter turnout was 41.67 percent, up 0.96 percentage point from the previous election.

Matsui, 63, secured 177,454 votes, against 161,203 ballots for runner-up Kazuhito Fukuyama, 62, an independent backed by the Japanese Communist Party, which has a strong support base in the city.

The election was called after Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa, who was in his fourth term, announced his retirement.

In the city’s first face-off among newcomers in 16 years, the main issues were an evaluation of Kadokawa’s administration and the city’s fiscal rehabilitation measures.

Matsui, who hails from Kyoto, first won a Diet seat in the 2001 Upper House election running as a candidate for the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan.

He served as deputy chief Cabinet secretary in the DPJ-led administration of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama that began in 2009.

After retiring from politics, Matsui served as a professor at Keio University. But he announced his candidacy last November, saying he wanted to “give back to Kyoto.”

At Matsui’s campaign kickoff event, no LDP members or other lawmakers gave speeches.

This was to prevent voters from being reminded of the money-in-politics scandal in national politics.

Matsui, in fact, did not ask senior officials of the LDP headquarters to support his local campaign.

Some believed that Matsui’s past association with the DPJ could diminish any impact from the LDP funding scandal. However, a Komeito member said, “Matsui is not an LDP member, but the influence is unavoidable.”

At Matsui’s campaign gathering, Bunmei Ibuki, a former Lower House speaker, apologized as a senior member of national politics, but he emphasized that the scandal “has nothing to do with the Kyoto mayoral election.”

Fukuyama campaigned on the need to “prioritize the voices of the citizens rather than money” in response to the scandal.

(This article was compiled from reports by Tatsuro Sugiura, Shun Yoshimura and Ippei Yaoita.)