2022 Nagasaki gubernatorial election

The 2022 Nagasaki gubernatorial election was a gubernatorial election held on 20 February 2022 to elect the next governor of Nagasaki (山口県), a prefecture of Japan in the north-west of Kyushu.

Three-term incumbent Hōdō Nakamura ran for re-election for a fourth four-year term, announcing his intentions on the final session of the Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly for 2021 on 21 December. Whether he would run was the subject of speculation and confusion, as he had made comments in late 2021 suggesting that he would not run and instead "pass the baton to the next leader". Nakamura had attempted to recruit a successor; but decided to run himself after those efforts fell through. LDP Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly Secretary-General Keisuke Yamamoto offered to run as a successor, but reportedly had policy disagreements with Nakamura, and decided not to run with Nakamura running. Nakaumura faced medical doctor Kengo Oishi and businessman Yoshihiko Miyazawa.

After previously endorsing Nakamura in 2010, 2014, and 2018, the prefectural Liberal Democratic Party federation instead voted to endorse the political newcomer Oishi in this election, due to dissatisfaction in Nakamura's governing. This caused a split in support amongst local LDP politicians, with two Nagasaki LDP Diet members and nearly half of the LDP's prefectural assembly members supporting Nakamura despite the federation's endorsement of Oishi.

Oishi narrowly defeated Nakamura by a margin of 541 votes (0.10%). He took office on 2 March. At 39 years old, Oishi became the youngest governor in Japan.

Candidates

 * Hōdō Nakamura, 71, incumbent since 2010, endorsed by half of prefectural assembly members of the LDP, the CDP and DPFP.
 * Kengo Oishi, 39 year-old medical doctor, former Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare medical official, endorsed by the Ishin and the LDP’s prefectural chapter.
 * Yoshihiko Miyazawa, 54 year-old business executive, endorsed by JCP.

Withdrew candidacy
 * Hirohiko Terada, 60 year-old civic group representative
 * Ryuji Tanaka, 78 year-old former Kobe University assistant professor

Issues
Issues in the election included COVID-19-related policies amidst the pandemic, extending the then-upcoming Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen through Saga Prefecture, construction of the Ishiki Dam, and a potential integrated resort facility in the prefecture.