2004 Niigata gubernatorial election

A gubernatorial election was held on 14 October 2004 to elect the next governor of Niigata (山口県), a prefecture of Japan in the Chūbu region of the main island of Honshu.

The incumbent, elected since 1992, Yukio Hirayama, 60, does not run again.

Candidates

 * Hirohiko Izumida, 42, endorsed by LDP and NK.
 * Hidetoshi Taga, 54, backed by SDP and the local chapter of DPJ.
 * Ichizo Kobayashi, 68, former chief of the Urban Development Bureau of the Niigata prefecture, member of LDP.
 * Yukio Kawamata, 49, backed by the JCP.
 * Kaoru Miyakoshi, 63, bureaucrat in the Finance Ministry, former JRP militant.
 * Yuji Ito, 39.