Understand Each Candidate’s Message – Based on Their Own Words
On July 20, 2025, voters in Japan will go to the polls to elect members of the House of Councillors, the upper house of the National Diet. In the Fukuoka constituency, three seats are being contested by thirteen candidates.
For many people living in Fukuoka—including long-term foreign residents and international professionals—Japanese election campaigns can feel distant or hard to follow, especially when speeches and materials are available only in Japanese.
That’s why we created this page.
Using AI-assisted translation and editing, we have produced English-language summaries of each Fukuoka candidate’s first official stump speech. These speeches were recorded and published by RKB-TV in full, without cuts. Each summary is based solely on those videos, and each includes a direct link to the original source on YouTube.
A Few Important Notes:
• These summaries are based solely on each candidate’s official stump speech, as published by RKB-TV on YouTube. We have not added any outside commentary, fact-checking, or interpretation.
• Using AI-assisted translation and editing, we’ve done our best to provide clear and accurate English summaries. However, minor errors or nuances may be lost in translation. Quotations are translated from Japanese and are intended to reflect the original tone and meaning as closely as possible.
• Our aim is to present each candidate’s message in a fair, balanced, and consistent format, using only their publicly stated words and priorities.
• We do not support or oppose any candidate, party, or policy. These summaries are provided purely for informational purposes to help English speakers in Fukuoka better understand what each candidate is saying.
• This project is non-partisan and not intended to influence voting decisions. It is meant to foster awareness and engagement, especially for those who may not be able to access Japanese-language materials.
We hope these summaries help more people in Fukuoka feel informed and engaged with what’s happening in their community—whether or not they can vote.
Index of Candidates
(The candidates are listed in the order they officially filed their candidacy, as determined by the election commission.)
• Masahiro Tominaga, Independent, Newcomer (47) / 諸派・新人 冨永正博氏
• Yuko Nakada, Sanseitō, Newcomer (35) / 参政党・新人 中田優子氏
• Naritoshi Murakami, Independent, Newcomer (54) / 諸派・新人 村上成俊氏
• Kuniyoshi Noda, Constitutional Democratic Party, Incumbent (67) / 立憲民主党・現職 野田国義氏
• Kenichi Kawamoto, Democratic Party for the People, Newcomer (45) / 国民民主党・新人 川元健一氏
• Rokuta Shimono, Komeito, Incumbent (61) / 公明党・現職 下野六太氏
• Hirofumi Ito, Nippon Ishin no Kai, Newcomer (56) / 日本維新の会・新人 伊藤博文氏
• Kentaro Mori, Japan Conservative Party, Newcomer (47) / 日本保守党・新人 森健太郎氏
• Rie Okizono, Reiwa Shinsengumi, Newcomer (50) / れいわ新選組・新人 沖園理恵氏
• Keiko Nasu, Social Democratic Party, Newcomer (65) / 社会民主党・新人 那須敬子氏
• Aoi Furukawa, Independent, Newcomer (34) / 諸派・新人 古川あおい氏
• Masaji Matsuyama, Liberal Democratic Party, Incumbent (66) / 自由民主党・現職 松山政司氏
• Yuto Yamaguchi, Japanese Communist Party, Newcomer (35) / 共産党・新人 山口湧人氏
Masahiro Tominaga (47) – Newcomer, Nihon Seishinkai (Japan Spirit Society)
Running in: Fukuoka Constituency
Party Type: Minor/Fringe Party
Core Message:
“Let’s take Japan back into Japanese hands.”
Key Policies and Promises:
• Rejects the current Constitution, calling it illegitimate and imposed by the U.S. after WWII.
• Calls for a full replacement of the Constitution, not just amendments.
• Believes Japan must address this “root issue” to recover as a nation.
• Emphasizes restoring Japan’s dignity, sovereignty, and connection to its imperial past.
• Claims current policies are ineffective “band-aid” solutions.
• Advocates for national revival in all areas—economy, agriculture, education, and defense—starting with constitutional reform.
• Positions his party as the only one declaring the current Constitution invalid.
• Strongly critical of Chinese aggression and Japan’s submissiveness to the U.S.
Notable Quotes (translated from Japanese):
“The current Constitution was forced on us by the Americans to weaken Japan.”
“Unless we stand tall again as Japanese, there is no revival.”
“Only a true constitutional reset can bring Japan back.”
Tone and Style:
Nationalistic and urgent, with a strong focus on history, tradition, and sovereignty.
Watch the full speech (in Japanese):
YouTube – RKB Video
Yuko Nakata (35) – Newcomer, Sanseitō (Sansei Party)
Running in: Fukuoka Constituency
Party Type: Minor Party
Core Message:
“Put Japanese people first. Let’s reclaim politics for the people.”
Key Policies and Promises:
• Reduce and phase out the consumption tax, and implement expansive fiscal policies to revitalize the economy.
• Cap the overall citizen burden rate (taxes + insurance) at 35% to ease household financial pressure.
• Reverse Japan’s decline by ending austerity and increasing government investment.
• Regulate immigration more strictly to maintain public safety and social stability.
• Boost food security by increasing support for primary industries and aiming for 100% food self-sufficiency by 2050.
• Reform education by moving away from rote learning and toward nurturing character and emotional well-being.
• Support families directly by proposing a monthly payment of ¥100,000 per child (age 0–15) to address declining birthrates and strengthen child-rearing at home.
• Oppose foreign-first policies, arguing that international aid has taken priority over Japanese citizens’ needs.
• Reassert national sovereignty through true democracy and citizen-led politics.
Notable Quotes (translated from Japanese):
“This is the only developed country where people are still getting poorer.”
“We must change our mindset and take action—not leave politics to the politicians.”
“Only ordinary citizens can reclaim Japan.”
Tone and Style:
Empathetic, activist, and grassroots-focused. Strong appeal to working families, mothers, and disillusioned citizens.
Watch the full speech (in Japanese):
YouTube – RKB Video
Naritoshi Murakami (54) – Newcomer, Minor Party (NHK Party)
Running in: Fukuoka Constituency
Party Type: Fringe Party (Formerly NHK Party)
Core Message:
“Scrap the NHK broadcast fee and shift to a fairer system.”
Key Policies and Promises:
• Eliminate NHK subscription fees for pensioners, just as they are already waived for welfare recipients.
• Push for scrambled broadcasting, so only those who want to watch NHK pay for it.
• Argues that NHK is not an essential service like electricity, gas, or water, and therefore should not require mandatory payment.
• Raise awareness of the unfairness in NHK fee collection, especially among the elderly and low-income households.
• Connects low wages among young people to social issues like declining marriage rates and low birthrates, calling for better economic conditions to support families.
• Frames the NHK fee issue as part of a broader quality-of-life and fairness agenda.
Notable Quotes (translated from Japanese):
“If NHK shuts off, your life doesn’t stop. But electricity and water do.”
“Young people can’t marry or raise families when their income is too low.”
Tone and Style:
Direct, populist, and focused on household financial concerns. Emphasizes fairness and skepticism toward government institutions.
Watch the full speech (in Japanese):
YouTube – RKB Video
Kuniyoshi Noda (67) – Incumbent, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP)
Running in: Fukuoka Constituency
Party Type: Major Opposition Party
Core Message:
“Politics must serve the people—let’s change the course of Japan, starting from Fukuoka.”
Key Policies and Promises:
• Reduce the consumption tax on food to 0%, targeting inflation and easing the burden on households.
• Act immediately to support citizens, criticizing the slow rollout of government relief such as the ¥20,000 payments not arriving until December.
• Reallocate misused funds, identifying over 7.8 trillion yen in “wasteful reserves” as a financial source for urgent relief.
• Tackle political corruption, with a strong call to ban corporate political donations, which he says distort policy and budgets.
• Revive agriculture and regional economies, drawing on his own background as the son of a full-time farming family in Hirokawa Town.
• Warns that Japan’s food security is at risk, with the number of farmers halved and the average age over 70.
• Calls for regeneration of primary industries and revitalization of rural communities as a national priority.
• Positions the CDP as the party capable of real political change and potential regime shift.
Notable Quotes (translated from Japanese):
“Politics exists for the people, not for politicians.”
“Corporate donations are the root of distorted politics. I will put an end to them.”
“This may be my last election—so I fight with everything I have.”
Tone and Style:
Experienced and passionate. Combines policy knowledge with a personal appeal grounded in his rural upbringing. Urges voters to rise up for political change.
Watch the full speech (in Japanese):
YouTube – RKB Video
Kenichi Kawamoto (45) – Newcomer, Democratic Party for the People (DPP)
Running in: Fukuoka Constituency
Party Type: Centrist Reformist Party
Core Message:
“Raise take-home pay, revitalize Japan’s economy, and protect the nation.”
Key Policies and Promises:
• Raise take-home income by cutting income tax and eliminating outdated tax burdens, such as the temporary gasoline surtax that has been in place for 50 years.
• Increase the 1.03 million income threshold to 1.78 million yen to reduce tax penalties on working families.
• Use tax cuts rather than cash handouts to support hardworking households directly and sustainably.
• Promote economic growth through investment in education, science, and technology.
• Enhance food and energy self-sufficiency to safeguard national security and reduce reliance on imports.
• Defend Japan’s sovereignty, including land, borders, and information infrastructure, as part of a comprehensive national strategy.
• Support industrial growth by revitalizing core Japanese industries such as manufacturing, transport, and services.
• Draws on his international experience in the aerospace and tech sectors, and emphasizes Fukuoka’s potential as a growth engine for all of Japan.
Notable Quotes (translated from Japanese):
“We’ll start with what really helps—raising take-home pay through tax reform.”
“Fukuoka has the power to lead Japan’s recovery.”
“It’s our generation’s responsibility to rebuild a prosperous Japan.”
Tone and Style:
Forward-looking and policy-driven. Appeals to working families, professionals, and voters who want tangible economic change. Optimistic and grounded in real-world industry experience.
Watch the full speech (in Japanese):
YouTube – RKB Video
Rokuta Shimono (61) – Incumbent, Komeito
Running in: Fukuoka Constituency
Party Type: Coalition Government Partner
Core Message:
“Politics must protect life—support for the vulnerable, relief from rising prices, and continued care for those in need.”
Key Policies and Promises:
• Support for socially isolated individuals (“hikikomori”) through national-level policy initiatives. He successfully pushed for their inclusion in the government’s basic economic and fiscal policy plans.
• Continue targeted cost-of-living support, including:
– Electricity and gas subsidies starting in July
– Fuel subsidies (¥10 per liter) since May
– Discounted rice distribution from national reserves (5kg bags available for ~¥2,000, with transport subsidized by the government)
• Combine tax cuts and cash benefits to help households face inflation:
– Proposes cash payouts of ¥40,000 per low-income household member and per child under 18
– Estimates a four-person dual-income family with two children could receive ¥160,000–¥200,000 in relief
• Criticizes opposition parties’ tax-only proposals, arguing they are insufficient to offset real price hikes (which are rising five times faster than last year)
• Emphasizes practical, immediate relief, not ideology, and insists this is not a “vote-buying” strategy but a moral responsibility to support struggling families
Notable Quotes (translated from Japanese):
“I cannot abandon this work halfway—people’s lives are at stake.”
“We need both tax cuts and direct aid. Either alone won’t get families through this crisis.”
“I will fight to the end for your everyday life.”
Tone and Style:
Empathetic, data-backed, and policy-driven. Strong focus on concrete relief measures, continuation of in-progress work, and a compassionate approach to politics.
Watch the full speech (in Japanese):
YouTube – RKB Video
Hirofumi Ito (56) – Newcomer, Nippon Ishin no Kai
Running in: Fukuoka Constituency
Party Type: Opposition Reformist
Core Message:
“Let’s end politics driven by favoritism and donations—build a new Japan with integrity, equal opportunity, and support for the next generation.”
Key Policies and Promises:
• Rejects corporate and organizational donations, criticizing long-standing ties between politicians and interest groups. Claims such relationships lead to favoritism, lack of reform, and stagnation in Japanese politics.
• Calls for politicians to lead by example by giving up perks:
– Ishin members cut their own salaries (20%) and bonuses (30%) to fund disaster relief and global humanitarian aid.
– Claims this contrasts with LDP scandals like the ¥700 million “secret funds” issue.
• Prioritizes education reform and equal opportunity:
– Advocates free education at all levels, pointing to Ishin’s record in Osaka (free tuition at Osaka Public University and cram school subsidies for elementary and junior high students).
– Emphasizes that “Japan became strong through education” and must now reinvest in it.
– Cites postwar progress in educational attainment as a model for national revival.
• Wants to revive political accountability and public-centered governance:
– Opposes policy that panders to specific organizations or voting blocs.
– Vows to listen to individual citizens, not special interests.
• Frames his campaign as part of a greater mission, referencing historical symbolism:
– Shares his name with Meiji Restoration figure Hirobumi Ito, and draws parallels to that era’s reforms.
– Says this is his third attempt at public office, and just as the original Ito succeeded on his third try, he believes now is his moment.
Notable Quotes (translated from Japanese):
“This country won’t improve as long as politicians keep wagging their tails to please their donors.”
“We cut our own pay. We walk the talk.”
“I want every child’s small hand to grasp a big dream.”
Tone and Style:
Passionate and reformist. Frames himself as an outsider challenging the establishment. Emphasizes integrity, self-sacrifice, and a break from traditional political power structures. Taps into historical and emotional themes while promoting education and fairness.
Watch the full speech (in Japanese):
YouTube – RKB Video
Kentaro Mori (47) – Newcomer, Nippon Hoshu-tō (Japan Conservative Party)
Running in: Fukuoka Constituency
Party Type: Right-Wing / Populist-Conservative
Core Message:
“We must restore Japan’s strength and protect our children’s future from globalist and leftist influences.”
Key Policies and Promises:
• Declares this election a fight to reclaim Japan from “left-wing forces” and “globalist elites.”
• Accuses the political left of undermining the nation through:
– Promotion of immigration
– Destruction of traditional values
– LGBTQ ideology “forced” onto schools and children
• Claims Japan is under threat from the WHO, UN, and “globalist agendas” trying to control national policy.
• Calls for restoring pride in Japan, protecting its unique culture, and defending the nation’s spiritual and familial values.
• Strongly opposes teaching gender ideology in schools and describes it as “child abuse.”
• Promotes a “conservative revolution” to:
– Reject globalist influence
– Protect family structures
– Support citizens who uphold traditional values
• Frames his candidacy as a voice for the “silenced majority” and a last chance to stop irreversible cultural change.
Notable Quotes (translated from Japanese):
“This isn’t about left or right—it’s about right and wrong.”
“Japan is being destroyed by immigration, gender ideology, and globalist control.”
“If we don’t act now, there will be no future for our children.”
Tone and Style:
Confrontational, populist, and ideologically charged. Heavy emphasis on cultural preservation, anti-globalism, and resistance to progressive social change.
Watch the full speech (in Japanese):
YouTube – RKB Video
Rie Okizono (Reiwa Shinsengumi) – Newcomer, Reiwa Shinsengumi
Running in: Fukuoka Constituency
Party Type: Progressive/Fringe Opposition Party
Core Message:
“Let’s abolish the consumption tax and build a society where no one is left behind—your voice and vote can change Japan.”
Key Policies and Promises:
• Completely abolish the consumption tax, calling it a regressive burden that worsens inequality and directly harms daily life, especially for the poor and working class.
• Criticizes half-measures like temporary or partial reductions, insisting that full abolition is necessary to truly ease people’s financial suffering.
• Calls for fundamental tax reform: shift the burden away from everyday people and collect more from the wealthy and large corporations, reversing decades of tax breaks for the rich.
• Promote free education and complete forgiveness of student loans to ensure every child can learn regardless of family income—“no more saying kids are stuck with ‘parent gacha.’”
• Build a society where people can recover and restart after failure, rejecting “self-responsibility” and “it’s your fault” thinking. Advocates for safety nets and second chances.
• Strongly supports vulnerable workers, including non-regular employees, single mothers, and women. Calls for a society where “no one has to worry, no matter what happens.”
• Opposes Japan’s growing military-industrial direction, arms exports, and subservience to the U.S. Seeks a new, peaceful partnership between Japan and America.
Notable Quotes (translated from Japanese):
“We don’t need a Japan that obeys everything the U.S. says—we need a new kind of alliance for peace.”
“No matter what happens—getting sick, losing your job, failing—you should never be afraid of tomorrow.”
“Let’s stop blaming people and start fixing politics. The problem isn’t your effort—it’s the system.”
Tone and Style:
Fierce, personal, and emotionally charged. Speaks directly to people suffering under economic and social pressures. Frames Reiwa Shinsengumi as a party of compassion, fairness, and radical reform, challenging traditional politics.
Watch the full speech (in Japanese):
YouTube – RKB Video
Keiko Nasu (65) – Newcomer, Social Democratic Party
Running in: Fukuoka Constituency – Opposition / Progressive Party
Core Message:
“Let’s reboot Japan with a politics that puts life and livelihoods first—not military spending, not corporate profits.”
Key Policies and Promises:
• End LDP rule, which she calls corrupt and male-dominated
• Drastically reduce military spending; redirect funds to social welfare
• Make education free at all levels, including university
• Eliminate food consumption tax
• Tax corporate internal reserves at 1% to fund social programs
• Reinstate corporate tax rates to previous levels
• Transition scholarship loans into non-repayable grants
• Stop discrimination against foreigners, the elderly, and minorities
• Build a cooperative (not competitive) society grounded in social democracy
• Strengthen public caregiving services and restore cuts to care provider fees
Notable Quotes (translated from Japanese):
“All previous winners in this constituency were men. I will break that wall.”
“Buying American weapons and preparing for war is not peace—it’s submission.”
“We are told there’s no budget for caregiving, but they find ¥1 trillion a year for military spending.”
“Let’s create a society where young people don’t have to give up on life because of poverty.”
“Hope is disappearing from our classrooms—I want to bring it back.”
Tone and Style:
Fiery, urgent, and uncompromising. Nasu delivers a passionate anti-establishment speech, sharply critical of the ruling parties and Japan’s military build-up. She blends calls for equality and pacifism with concrete proposals grounded in her background as a long-time social studies teacher. Her style evokes classic social-democratic values and direct appeals to working-class voters and the marginalized.
Watch the full speech (in Japanese):
YouTube – RKB Video
Aoi Furukawa (34) – Newcomer, Team Mirai
Running in: Fukuoka Constituency
Party Type: Minor/Fringe Party
Core Message:
“Let’s upgrade Japan with technology—no one should be left behind.”
Key Policies and Promises:
• Promote transparency in political funding by using technology to publish real-time expense data, inspired by overseas models such as issuing credit cards to lawmakers and releasing statements online.
• End wasteful political debate by enforcing rules and eliminating corruption—ensuring time is spent on citizens’ needs, not scandals.
• Shift politics from aging leadership to younger, tech-savvy decision-makers—Team Mirai’s average candidate age is 35.5.
• Modernize Japan’s outdated government systems, arguing that inefficiencies common in politics would be unacceptable in private enterprise.
• Address inflation and supply panic (e.g., rice prices) by introducing real-time tracking systems, similar to Taiwan’s “mask map” during COVID-19.
• Reform the complex and outdated social security system to make it clearer, more flexible, and sustainable for the next 30–50 years.
• Use AI and big data to incorporate large-scale public feedback (e.g., from public comment systems) into policymaking more efficiently and accurately.
• Call for investment in science and technology to grow Japan’s economic “pie,” rather than fighting over existing resources.
• Assert that even a small, agile party like Team Mirai can drive real change by building and using policy tools themselves—already in use, not just promises.
Notable Quotes (translated from Japanese):
“Team Mirai is a party that builds with its own hands. We write code, deploy tools, and fix bugs ourselves.”
“Japan can still be updated—politics doesn’t need to be stuck in the past.”
“With technology, we can reflect the voice of the people and create a more inclusive society.”
Tone and Style:
Youthful, pragmatic, and tech-forward. Leverages experience in the Ministry of Health and Silicon Valley. Frames technology as the tool to rebuild trust and modernize every aspect of Japanese governance.
Watch the full speech (in Japanese):
YouTube – RKB Video
Masaji Matsuyama (66) – Incumbent, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Running in: Fukuoka Constituency
Party Type: Ruling Party
Core Message:
“Only experience and responsibility—not populism—can guide Japan through this era of transformation.”
Key Policies and Promises:
• Emphasizes the LDP’s economic achievements, including surpassing ¥600 trillion in nominal GDP and securing the first major wage increases in over three decades.
• Pledges continued efforts to counter rising prices with decisive action: including gas tax reductions, energy subsidies, and price stabilization for rice and other essentials.
• Supports direct cash handouts to citizens as a quick and effective method of relief, funded through surplus tax revenues.
• Commits to improving compensation for workers in healthcare, welfare, childcare, and early education sectors, with policy changes already reflected in national strategy documents.
• Advocates for revitalizing agriculture through increased investment in food security and productivity, with a bold 5-year budget plan separate from existing agricultural funding.
• Promotes strong child-rearing support under the Kishida administration’s “Children and Families Strategy,” as part of “unprecedented” countermeasures to Japan’s declining birthrate.
• Calls for continued investment in disaster resilience and infrastructure renewal, backed by a 20-trillion-yen national plan for the next five years.
• Stresses the importance of enhancing Japan’s defense capabilities and constitutional reform, including improved support for Self-Defense Forces and accelerated defense policy updates.
• Warns against the dangers of populist parties and insists that experienced leadership is necessary during what he calls a historic turning point for Japan.
Notable Quotes (translated from Japanese):
“The LDP must win this election—for Japan’s future and for stability in a rapidly changing world.”
“Populism cannot be allowed to decide the course of our nation.”
“This is not just an election—it’s a battle to prevent Japan from making grave mistakes.”
Tone and Style:
Seasoned and establishment-focused. Emphasizes continuity, national security, and economic management. Appeals to voters with a sense of duty, urging them to resist political trends driven by emotion or novelty.
Watch the full speech (in Japanese):
YouTube – RKB Video
Yuto Yamaguchi (35) – Newcomer, Japanese Communist Party (JCP)
Running in: Fukuoka Constituency
Party Type: Left-Wing Opposition Party
Core Message:
“Let’s protect our lives and dignity—together, we can build a fairer Japan for all.”
Key Policies and Promises:
• Cut the consumption tax from 10% to 5% across all goods and services to immediately ease financial pressure on households—calling it more effective than one-time cash handouts.
• Eliminate the invoice system and shift the tax burden away from low-income individuals by raising taxes on large corporations and the wealthy, reclaiming over ¥11 trillion in lost corporate tax breaks.
• Raise the minimum wage to ¥1,500 per hour nationwide, resulting in up to ¥900,000 more in annual income for workers. Fund this by taxing large corporate reserves and establishing a 5-year, ¥10 trillion direct aid program for small businesses.
• Strongly opposes austerity in healthcare and welfare. Calls for expanded social security that truly supports all generations, especially the vulnerable and working poor.
• Criticizes cuts to OTC drug insurance coverage, saying it unfairly affects young people with chronic conditions and undermines health security.
• Argues that growing military spending—set to exceed ¥10 trillion by FY2027—is directly responsible for cuts to healthcare, welfare, and education. Demands a redirection of funds away from defense and toward people’s needs.
• Condemns politics that fuel division based on nationality, ability, or generation, defending the equal rights and dignity of all people living in Japan.
• Draws from his experience working in a disability support facility to call for inclusive policies based on solidarity, not suspicion or blame.
Notable Quotes (translated from Japanese):
“The consumption tax is crushing lives—lowering it will bring real relief.”
“Every person, regardless of background or ability, has the right to live with dignity.”
“Let’s stop fueling division. Let’s stand together for a society where everyone can thrive.”
Tone and Style:
Emotional, grassroots, and justice-driven. Highlights poverty, inequality, and social compassion. Frames the election as a chance to push back against austerity, militarism, and social division.
Watch the full speech (in Japanese):
YouTube – RKB Video