Former Mayor Ogawa Takes On Gunma Governor Yamamoto in a Proxy Political Battle

A grassroots, door-to-door campaign centered on volunteers

Former Maebashi mayor Akira Ogawa (43), who resigned after reports of a love hotel meeting, has announced that he will run in the do-over mayoral election (officially announced January 5, ’26; voting on January 12).

On December 17, Ogawa uploaded a video in which he apologized, saying,

“Despite having created a new flow for Maebashi, my own misconduct brought that flow to a halt. As a leader, I truly feel ashamed and deeply sorry.”

He went on to state his resolve:

“I want to stake my life on challenging Maebashi’s municipal administration. I have renewed that determination.”

Regarding Ogawa, it was revealed in September that he had met multiple times with a male city employee at a love hotel within the city. While he acknowledged that the meeting location was inappropriate, he steadfastly denied having an intimate relationship.

A local newspaper reporter who has continued covering the case commented:

“Afterward, when the city council indicated it would submit a no-confidence motion, Ogawa resigned. Unlike former Ito mayor Maki Takubo (55), who faced allegations of falsifying her academic background, Ogawa did not irrationally dissolve the city council—that was his only saving grace.”

Even so, public headwinds remain strong. Does he stand a chance of winning?

The same reporter said,

“In preparation for his re-run, Ogawa has held multiple gatherings in the city to keep supporters on board. Surprisingly, he received warm encouragement. He plans to avoid relying on organizational backing and instead commit to a grassroots, door-to-door campaign centered on volunteers.”

At present, candidates who have declared for next year’s mayoral election include attorney Akira Maruyama (39), supported by two LDP-aligned factions, and former city councilor Setsuko Tanhashi (64), endorsed by the Communist Party. Pre-election forecasts suggest the race will likely come down to a one-on-one contest between Ogawa and Maruyama.

Throwing his full support behind Maruyama is Gunma Governor Ichita Yamamoto (67).

Even before the love-hotel meeting allegations surfaced, Governor Yamamoto and Ogawa did not get along, and after the reports emerged, Yamamoto repeatedly launched verbal attacks.

In October, after viewing video footage of Ogawa entering a hotel, Yamamoto began analyzing it on his blog.

〈There’s a scene where the mayor’s face—wearing glasses and crouching as he gets into the car—is shown quite clearly!〉

Regarding footage showing a man carefully looking around, exiting first, opening the car door, and welcoming Ogawa inside, he wrote,

〈Huh? Didn’t Mayor Ogawa say at the press conference right after the article was published, “It’s not true that I was wearing glasses or a mask, or that the other person opened the car door when I got in”?! (wry laugh) Was that statement a lie?!〉

—continuing at length in a persistently nitpicking tone.

Governor Yamamoto launches a nagging verbal attack on Ogawa

A Nagatacho insider who has known Yamamoto since his days as a House of Councillors member told this site:

“Ichita-sensei is extremely sharp and eloquent. Even in debates, he would say things like, ‘This is what you’re thinking, isn’t it,’ getting ahead of the other person and steering the conversation. He’s the type who leaves no opening—but on the flip side, he seems to really dislike being attacked. Former Mayor Ogawa had been on the opposite side from Ichita-sensei ever since her days as a Gunma prefectural assembly member. That’s why, in Maebashi—right in the governor’s backyard—he wants someone he knows and trusts to be mayor. His attacks on former Mayor Ogawa are probably an expression of that sentiment.”

One can understand Governor Yamamoto’s feelings to some extent, but if he goes too far, it risks looking like bullying by someone in a superior position. And the person who wants that narrative more than anyone else is Ogawa herself.

“In fact, sympathy for Ogawa is starting to grow as a result of Governor Yamamoto’s nagging attacks. On YouTube as well, an unnatural number of videos praising Governor Yamamoto while putting Ogawa down have been uploaded. Ogawa’s camp seems eager to fight the election under the image of her as a ‘Joan of Arc battling pressure’” (local TV station source).

Outwardly, Ogawa appears to endure in silence. However, at closed-door meetings where the media were shut out, when supporters said,

“Governor Yamamoto’s remarks amount to sexual harassment,”

she reportedly replied,

“There are people around me as well who say the governor’s remarks are strange.”

The do-over election is taking on the appearance not of “Ogawa vs. Maruyama,” but of a proxy war between “Ogawa vs. Governor Yamamoto.” At present, Maruyama—who has organized votes behind him—is seen as having the advantage, but elections are never decided until the ballots are counted.

“The election result is the will of the people. If, against expectations, Ogawa were to be re-elected, Governor Yamamoto’s response would then be called into question. He has long refused to meet Ogawa, citing a lack of trust, and has treated her coldly. But if Ogawa wins, that is the expression of public will, and he would have to change his approach. If the prefecture and Maebashi City cannot communicate properly, it’s the citizens who will suffer” (national newspaper political desk reporter).

What kind of verdict will the people of Maebashi deliver?