The 2023 Osaka mayoral election took place on 9 April 2023 as part of the 20th unified local elections to elect the next mayor of Osaka. Incumbent mayor Ichiro Matsui decided not to seek a second term as mayor of Osaka, opting instead to retire from politics at the end of his term. The election resulted in a landslide victory for Hideyuki Yokoyama, the candidate from the Osaka Restoration Association, who secured 64.56% of the vote. Taeko Kitano, who was supported by the Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party, received 26.41% of the vote.
Background Following the rejection of his proposal to abolish Osaka City and establish an Osaka Metropolis, incumbent mayor Ichiro Matsui announced his intention to retire from politics at the end of his current term. The election was announced on 26 March 2023, to be held on 9 April 2023 in conjunction with elections for the Osaka City Council, the Osaka Prefectural Assembly, and the governor of Osaka Prefecture.
Candidates
Osaka Restoration Association
Declared Satoru Fujita, Osaka City Council member Rie Honda, Osaka City Council member Kenta Matsunami, Osaka Prefectural Assembly member Futoshi Okazaki, Osaka City Council member Hideyuki Yokoyama, Osaka Prefectural Assembly member
Results Fujita, Honda, and Matsunami were eliminated on 4 November 2022 during an internal Osaka Restoration Society selection meeting. Yokoyama then defeated Okazaki in a runoff election on 10 December 2022.
Independent
Declared Yasuhiko Aramaki, restaurant owner Taeko Kitano, Osaka City Council member (backed by Liberal Democratic Party and Constitutional Democratic Party) Nepensa, author Toshihiko Yamazaki, physical therapist
Results City-wide results
Ward results ward name Hideyuki Yokoyama Taeko Kitano Toshihiko Yamazaki Yasuhiko Aramaki Nepensa Osaka City total 655,802 268,227 45,369 30,960 15,408 Kita Ward 34,795 11,210 2,515 1,730 821 Toshima Ward 28,607 10,485 2,097 1,632 583 Fukushima Ward 20,303 6,783 1,335 783 380 Konohana Ward 16,057 6,557 925 639 404 Chuo Ward 23,849 9,393 1,356 1,396 518 Nishi Ward 23,622 8,653 1,251 1,198 501 Minato Ward 19,422 8,732 1,338 852 474 Taisho District 15,697 6,336 986 820 394 Tennoji Ward 20,073 8,134 1,030 1,064 430 Naniwa Ward 10,889 4,593 768 662 281 Nishiyodogawa Ward 22,661 10,189 1,385 1,328 596 Yodogawa Ward 41,715 20,109 1,986 1,678 884 Higashiyodogawa Ward 39,868 15,792 2,450 1,767 923 Higashinari Ward 20,702 8,130 1,773 914 532 Ikuno Ward 23,517 10,508 1,866 1,370 643 Asahi Ward 22,734 10,444 2,794 1,102 559 Joto Ward 46,115 16,942 4,402 1,709 1,076 Tsurumi Ward 29,369 9,585 2,485 1,125 618 Abeno Ward 28,697 13,719 2,595 1,286 502 Suminoe Ward 30,191 12,771 1,773 1,700 754 Sumiyoshi Ward 37,080 17,645 2,313 1,748 899 Higashi Sumiyoshi Ward 32,515 14,182 1,725 1,311 769 Hirano Ward 46,733 17,490 3,063 2,249 1,283 Nishinari Ward 20,591 9,845 1,158 897 584 All results published by Osaka City.
References