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This paper analyzes cooperations on measures against the shortage of candidates in town and village assembly elections and negotiations on sustainable assembly reform through the lenses of center-local relations and democratic qualities.

Paper long abstract

While declining voter turnout in Japan has been extensively studied, the decline in electoral competition has only recently come into focus within the academic literature. In 2023, the share of uncontested elections in town and village assembly elections has grown to an all-time high of 30.3% according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Elections that use single-member districts, where candidates compete for one seat only, have faced this issue for a long time with influential incumbents effectively suppressing competition. The more puzzling is the phenomenon of uncontested elections for multi-member districts as in town and village assembly elections. This trend stems not from the overwhelming presence of the incumbent, but from a shortage of willing candidates and puts Japanese towns and villages at the front of a global development that challenges conventional indicators of democratic qualities.

This paper argues that Japan’s towns and villages provide insight into how subnational institutions can adapt to challenges of mature democracies such as population decline, decreasing electoral competition, and shrinking political participation. It shows the innovative potential of Japan’s town and village assemblies that are often (unjustly) deemed as the weaker part of the subnational two-tier representative system (nigen daihyōsei). By analyzing the horizontal and vertical cooperation networks of local municipalities, it demonstrates how measures against the shortage of candidates and sustainable assembly reform are negotiated within center-local relations. The paper is based on an interview study conducted in 2023 and 2024 with different actors of center-local relations as well as an analysis of various policy papers. Whereas democratic theory often treats uncontested elections as indicators of a democratic crisis, this paper highlights how the study of Japanese town and village assembly reform processes helps contextualize broader debates on transformations of democratic institutions.

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Paper short abstract

This presentation conducts an empirical analysis of the crisis facing local governance in rural areas using survey data collected from Japanese local politicians and Japanese voters. It also introduces proposals from organizations such as the National Governors' Association (Zenkku Chiji-kai).

Paper long abstract

The framework of Japan's modern local autonomy system was designed with reference to American local governance after World War II. However, the foundations of the various systems supporting local autonomy (such as the electoral system and local assembly system) are rooted in pre-war European systems. This is evident from the fact that Japan's local electoral system and local administrative structure are premised on the concept of “noblesse oblige.” In Japan, the further one goes into rural areas, the more local autonomy tends to rely on individuals possessing significant political resources, including social capital.

In recent years, Japan has entered a phase of population decline, making the sustainability of local autonomy in rural areas a critical political issue. There is a shortage of candidates for town and village council positions, and the reorganization of voting districts due to population decline is worsening the voting environment. Securing polling station officials is also becoming difficult for many municipalities.

This paper examines the impact of population decline on the institutions supporting local autonomy and democracy in Japan, along with its underlying causes. For instance, the environment for running in local elections in Japan assumes candidates lack party support, and many Japanese support the view that “party conflicts from the central level should not be brought into local politics.” Furthermore, the Japanese are reluctant to donate to politicians, making it difficult to cover the costs of running for office through donations. Furthermore, influenced by the prewar honorary councilor system, the remuneration for town and village council members is kept remarkably low.

This paper conducts empirical analysis using survey data collected from local politicians and voters. It then introduces the various initiatives being undertaken to address the crisis facing local autonomy in rural areas. It also discusses proposals from organizations such as the National Governors' Association (Zenkku Chiji-kai) and the National Association of Chairpersons of Town and Village Assembly (Zenkok Choson Gikai Gicho-kai), as well as efforts being made by local governments themselves.

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Paper short abstract

Using nationwide observational data on Japan's local assemblies, this study documents how often women serve as assembly chairs and identifies assembly characteristics associated with their absence. It provides baseline evidence on gender inequality in subnational legislative leadership.

Paper long abstract

Women remain substantially underrepresented in political leadership, and this gap may be particularly pronounced in presiding posts such as chairs of local assemblies. Although a large body of research has accumulated on women's representation in legislatures, comparatively little attention has been paid to who occupies these presiding positions. In Japan's local assemblies, evidence is still scarce regarding whether women become chairs and in what settings women are absent from these posts. Japan consistently ranks low among advanced democracies in women's political representation. Prior research has documented women's underrepresentation as local assembly members, but the extent to which women hold leadership offices within those assemblies remains insufficiently understood. This paper describes the incidence of female chairs and identifies the characteristics of assemblies in which women are underrepresented in these positions. Using observational data on Japan's local assemblies, it undertakes an exploratory analysis that systematically examines the current status of female chairs and the features of the assemblies in which they serve. In doing so, the study seeks to clarify patterns of gender inequality in local legislative leadership and to illuminate potential determinants of these gaps. The project provides baseline evidence on gendered access to presiding authority in subnational representative institutions.

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Paper short abstract

The introduction of AI systems in local assemblies enables council members to leverage AI support and new ideas not merely for quantitative gains in information or knowledge, but also to strengthen policy proposals and solutions to regional challenges.

Paper long abstract

　In the 2024 Tokyo governor election, AI Yuriko, an AI agent for incumbent candidate Yuriko Koike, conducted the election campaign. After 2025, local assemblies also began developing AI systems, with some assemblies even developing their own AI models.　

　The introduction of AI systems in local assemblies is progressing along three main lines. The first is the revision or enactment of ordinances through AI system implementation. This serves as an effective means to resolve issues where ordinances enacted by the assembly no longer align with the times. The second trend involves AI systems supporting municipal budget and settlement processes, as well as administrative audits. Even at the local level, administrative roles are becoming more complex and multifaceted, while the scope of administration is expanding. This expansion of administrative functions is contributing to the weakening of the council's oversight role over the administration. Introducing AI systems within the council serves as a means to strengthen its budgetary and policy oversight functions over the administration. The third trend involves introducing AI systems to support council members' activities in creating council meeting minutes and communicating with residents.

　The introduction of AI systems in local assemblies serves to bridge the information gap that exists between the assembly and the executive branch. Building and operating a budget and settlement database based on AI systems provides an effective means for assembly members to grasp the scale and usage of the municipality's budget. The introduction of AI systems presents a valuable opportunity to improve the asymmetrical relationship between the assembly and the executive branch. The introduction of AI systems in local assemblies enables council members to leverage AI support and new ideas not merely for quantitative gains in information or knowledge, but also to strengthen policy proposals and solutions to regional challenges. Such changes lead to enhanced functions of local assemblies as representatives of residents and as checks on the executive branch. Furthermore, there is potential for their role to expand beyond representation into managing the region. This paper aims to analyze these changes based on case studies.