Former Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka, who resigned due to power harassment, plans to run again

On the 27th, it was learned through interviews with related parties that former Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka (54) of Yokohama City, who resigned due to power harassment issues with senior staff members, has decided to run for re-election. The announcement is expected to be made at a press conference in the city on the 28th. The mayoral election will be held with announcements made on October 4th and votes counted on the 18th.

Five newcomers have announced their candidacies for the mayoral election: lawyer Atsumi Harazawa (59), company manager Atsushi Fukuyama (37), recommended by the political party, former House of Representatives member Kazuma Nakatani (43), Communist Party Kanagawa Prefectural Vice-Chairman Yuka Asaga (46), and civic group representative Shoko Fujikawa (51). Mr. Harasawa is recommended by the Liberal Democratic Party Municipal Federation and the People's Democratic Party Prefectural Federation, while Mr. Nakatani is supported by the Constitutional Democratic Party Prefectural Federation. Yamanaka's candidacy is expected to lead to a crowded race.

Yamanaka was first elected as mayor in August 2021 after serving as a professor at Yokohama City University. In last year's mayoral election, he was re-elected with support from the three major factions of the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito, and Rikun Democratic Party.

In January of this year, a current city official accused Yamanaka of power harassment. An investigative report released by third-party lawyers at the end of July identified seven items as acts of power harassment, including comments about senior staff members such as ``cramps'' and ``human scum.'' There were growing calls for Yamanaka's resignation in the city council, and he resigned on the 7th of this month.