Developments in the IR race are bittersweet for Shizuoka prefecture. The Shizuoka city mayoral election which took place on 7 April resulted in a second re-election for Nobuhiro Tanabe, who is unaffiliated with any major party.
Former member of the prefectural assembly Shingo Amano (77), who ran on a platform that included an IR bid, was defeated, eliminating Shizuoka city from the IR race. This now opens the door for Makinohara city, which has been active in pursuing an IR bid.
After serving two terms already, the Tanabe administration’s positive appraisal was his biggest advantage in the election. Tanabe’s supporters appreciate his success so far in fiscal reconstruction, support for families raising children and disaster measures. He promised to continue with city development with a focus on major public operations such as historical cultural facilities.
His opponent Amano was also a former mayor of Shizuoka city and was a member of the prefectural assembly. General questions were taken at February’s Prefectural Assembly regular meeting, where Amano pushed his proposal for an IR property in the Nihondaira area of Shizuoak prefecture, but it was a short-lived dream.
Running for election at 77 years of age, Amano exceeded the age of past Tokyo Gubernatorial candidates such as former prime minister Morihiro Hosokawa and journalist Shuntaro Torigoe, who ran when he was 76.
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