These are the results of the Nishinomiya mayoral election and the Nishinomiya City Council by-election, held on March 29, 2026.
Nishinomiya Mayoral Election Results
Toshiro Ishii wins a third term
| Result | Candidate | Party Affiliation | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elected | Toshiro Ishii（54） Incumbent | Independent | 71,045 |
| Masatake Tanaka（50） Newcomer; former city council member | Independent （endorsed by LDP and Ishin） | 70,390 | |
| Hideki Hatamoto（59） Newcomer; chair of an organization for people with disabilities | Independent | 11,725 |
A difference of just 655 votes… It really was a close race
📊Mayoral Election Data
Valid votes: 153,160Invalid votes: 2,126
Total voters: 155,291
Voter turnout: 39.63%（previous election in 2022: 41.28%, election before that: 37.49%）
Difference between 1st and 2nd place: 655 votes
Nishinomiya City Council By-Election Results（1 Seat）
Yumi Kamitani wins
| Result | Candidate | Party Affiliation | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elected | Yumi Kamitani | Liberal Democratic Party | 76,534 |
| Kazuhiro Maekawa | Independent | 34,768 | |
| Kazuya Hirota | Independent | 22,448 | |
| Osamu Hattori | Association to Protect Citizens’ Lives | 10,186 |
📊City Council By-Election Data
Valid votes: 143,936Invalid votes: 11,300
Total voters: 155,240
※The number of invalid votes in the city council by-election was high at 11,300（about 7.3%）. This election used the same symbol-based voting method as the mayoral election, where voters mark a circle.
In past Nishinomiya mayoral elections, Ishii’s first win in 2018 was also decided by just 108 votes against Masakazu Yoshioka. This time, the margin was 655 votes. It really makes you realize that Nishinomiya mayoral elections can change with a single vote.
