Hokkaido Town Mayor Backing N-Waste Survey Re-Elected

Jiji Press

14:45 JST, October 29, 2025

Suttsu, Hokkaido, Oct. 29 (Jiji Press)—Suttsu Mayor Haruo Kataoka, who supports proceeding to the next-stage survey to select a final disposal site for high-level nuclear waste, has been re-elected for a seventh consecutive term in the northern Japan town.

The 76-year-old independent incumbent defeated former town council member Shingo Ogushi, 42, who also ran as an independent, in Tuesday’s mayoral election in the town of Suttsu in the northernmost Japan prefecture of Hokkaido.

The town has completed the first-stage literature survey in the disposal site selection process. Kataoka advocates moving forward to the next-stage survey that involves drilling work to examine the strata. Ogushi, on the other hand, opposes the move.

“We will lay out a path toward making the town, whose population is decreasing, sustainable” by receiving financial assistance for cooperation concerning the second-stage survey, Kataoka said.

Ogushi called for a renewal of the town government, arguing that the debate over nuclear waste has caused division. But his message failed to resonate with voters.

Consent from both the prefectural governor and the municipal chief is required to proceed to the next survey. The town plans to hold a referendum to gauge public opinion if the central government requests it.

“We will do it after hearing from the central government. We have no intention of rushing,” Kataoka said of the referendum.

Even if a majority of residents support Kataoka’s plan, he intends to postpone responding to an inquiry from the central government. This is due to Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki’s opposition to the second-stage survey as of now, leaving uncertainty about whether the town will actually advance to the next phase.