Takeharu Yamanaka (山中 竹春, Yamanaka Takeharu, born 27 September 1972) is a Japanese politician and current mayor of Yokohama, the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture. He defeated incumbent mayor Fumiko Hayashi in the 2021 Yokohama mayoral election.[1] His independent campaign was supported by the Constitutional Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, and the Communist Party of Japan.[2] Yamanaka's campaign focused on the opposition for a planned integrated resort development and casino for the city which was to be built on Yamashita Pier, criticism against the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and additional sister city relationship with San Francisco, California.[3][4][5]

Yamanaka formerly worked as a professor at Yokohama City University and as a data scientist.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ "Exit polls show ally of Japan's Suga losing Yokohama election, NHK says". Reuters. 23 August 2021. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  2. ^ Johnston, Eric (22 August 2021). "In major blow to Suga, opposition party-backed Takeharu Yamanaka wins Yokohama mayoral election". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Yokohama Mayor Poll Result May Affect Japan's IR Future". nippon.com. 23 August 2021. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Anti-IR campaigner Takeharu Yamanaka wins Yokohama mayoral election". IAG. 22 August 2021. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  5. ^ Adachi, Yushin. "Casino resort ups the ante in Yokohama mayoral race | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis". The Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Japan PM Suga regrets opposition win in Yokohama mayor election". Kyodo News+. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Suga suffers blow as LDP-backed candidate loses Yokohama poll". Nikkei Asia. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Yokohama
2021–present 		Incumbent