Photo/Illutration Seven mayors jointly issue a statement at a Nov. 14 news conference in Kobe regarding the Hyogo gubernatorial election. (Teruko Tanibe)

The Hyogo gubernatorial election entered its final stage, with candidates stepping up their promotional activities on social media while trying to counter false information and defamatory remarks online.

Election day is Nov. 17.

The rather bizarre reason behind the holding of the governor’s race sparked early public interest. And as the 17-day campaign period proceeded, more people were seen attending rallies and listening to election speeches on the streets.

Kazumi Inamura, 52, a former mayor of Amagasaki city in Hyogo Prefecture, has increased the number of postings of her street speeches and other events on social media.

But she has also had to deal with a scourge inherent in social media: fake news.

According to her campaign team, several posts about Inamura that spread online are simply not true, such as “she is promoting a policy of giving suffrage to foreign nationals.”

As a countermeasure, Inamura’s team has heightened opportunities for voters to meet the candidate in person to learn about her personality and her policies.

And in a rare move on Nov. 14, the mayors of 22 of the 29 cities in the prefecture released a joint statement announcing their support for Inamura.

They said the reason for their endorsement is because “the situation is alarming with slander and defamation” in the election campaign. They also said Inamura will be “the governor who rebuilds the prefecture.”

The election was called after the previous governor, Motohiko Saito, was accused of corruption, harassment and violating laws on protecting whistleblowers.

He was ousted after the prefectural assembly unanimously passed a no-confidence motion against him.

Saito, 47, however, refused to go quietly and immediately announced he was running to regain the post.

In the final stage of his campaign, he focused on delivering street speeches mainly in densely populated areas.

Regarding a document distributed to the media and the assembly by a now-deceased whistleblower, Saito has stated, “I have not engaged in power harassment.”

His campaign team has been making full use of social media.

Alumni from the junior high and high schools that Saito attended, as well as numerous volunteers, have post daily on X and Instagram about his campaign activities and schedules.

As a result, the number of people gathering for his rallies has risen.

Some prefectural assembly members who belong to regional political party Hyogo Ishin no Kai are backing Saito’s bid.

Another candidate, former Upper House member Takayuki Shimizu, 50, left Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party). But he is supported by some politicians who are related to the party, as well as Kobe city assembly members connected to the Liberal Democratic Party.

“The prefecture and cities and towns are one team,” Shimizu has said. “I want us to work together as a tag team.”

As a former TV announcer, Shimizu emphasizes his “listening skills.”

Yoshikiyo Osawa, 61, a doctor supported by the Japanese Communist Party, has campaigned throughout the prefecture.

“The prefectural budget will be switched to place top priority on livelihoods, medical care and education,” he has said in the campaign.

Despite the frequent use of social media to promote their campaigns, the candidates have also been busy posting messages denying certain content, saying “incorrect information is being circulated on social networking sites.”

Several videos have surfaced on social media showing what appears to be a fight between rival camps. One clip showed as person ripping up a campaign flier held by a supporter during a street activity.

One staff member on X said the campaign team has heard of cases in which street speeches have been disrupted.

Such behavior “cannot be tolerated in the conduct of a fair election campaign,” the staff member said.

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