Itayanagi Town Votes on Assembly Dissolution
Voters in Aomori Prefecture’s Itayanagi town will head to the polls to decide whether to dissolve the town assembly following months of fierce infighting over a four-school merger project, yomiuri.co.jp reported.
The 12-seat town assembly has fractured into two opposing camps over the reconstruction of merged elementary facilities. The opposition faction “Soshu-kai,” holding six seats, has repeatedly clashed with the four-seat ruling faction “Shinsei-kai,” which backs Mayor Kenta Kasai’s preferred renovation plan.
Soshu-kai members voted down the town’s school construction budget proposals five times in 2026. They argued that the projected costs far exceeded the figures presented during an earlier August 2024 local referendum.
The political paralysis deepened when Soshu-kai utilized Article 100 of the Local Autonomy Act to set up a special investigation committee. The committee investigated allegations that assembly chair Koichi Imai, a member of Shinsei-kai, interfered with local public works bidding processes. The committee concluded in September 2026 that an investigation by law enforcement authorities was necessary.
Tensions boiled over on the final day of the September regular session. Mayor Kasai enacted a merged-school construction contract via an exclusive executive disposition, which Soshu-kai rejected as a sign of disrespect toward the legislature because the amount totaled roughly half of the initial town budget.
| Referendum Metric | August 2024 Referendum | September 2026 Referendum |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible Voters | 1万816 | 1万439 (as of Sept. 1) |
| Voter Turnout | 46・39% | Pending |
| Core Question | Renovate vs. Rebuild | Dissolution of Town Assembly |
After months of deadlock in the town government, residents affiliated with the group Itayanagi Town o Kangaeru Kai collected signatures from over 33% of eligible voters. Their recall petition triggered the upcoming public vote on assembly dissolution.
Voter registration stood at 10,439 as of September 1, 2026. Voting will take place across 12 designated locations on September 29, with early voting scheduled daily from September 10 through September 28 at the Itayanagi Welfare Center.
The September 29 vote will run from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with same-day ballot counting at the Itayanagi Multi-purpose Hall Apple. If a majority of valid votes favor the recall, the town assembly will dissolve immediately, and a fresh election for town council seats must be held within 40 days.