Kanagawa 2nd district

Quick Facts: Who was Kanagawa 2nd district?

Subject:

Kanagawa 2nd district

Known for:

A single-member constituency in the Japanese House of Representatives covering parts of Yokohama.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Kanagawa 2nd district (神奈川県第2区, Kanagawa-ken dai-niku or 神奈川2区, Kanagawa niku) is a single-member constituency of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the national Diet of Japan. It is located in eastern Kanagawa Prefecture and consists of Yokohama city's Nishi (West), Minami (South) and Kōnan wards. As of December 1, 2020, 435,659 eligible voters were registered in the district.

Career & Major Achievements

Before the electoral reform of the 1990s, the area had been split between the former four-member 1st district and the former five-member 4th district. The 2nd district's longest-serving representative since the electoral reform has been Liberal Democrat Yoshihide Suga (without factional affiliation), the former Prime Minister of Japan, and a former member of the Yokohama city council who entered the Diet as a newcomer in 1996. He was able to beat Akihiro Ueda (New Frontier Party, ex-Kōmeitō), one of the incumbents for the pre-reform 4th district.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In subsequent elections, he defended the seat against Democrats Akira Ōide and Kazuya Miura. Suga was Internal Affairs Minister in the First Abe cabinet and Chief Cabinet Secretary in the Second Abe Cabinet. Shōbun Nitta succeeded Suga in 2026 following his retirement.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1996: 1996 Milestone — The 2nd district's longest-serving representative since the electoral reform has been Liberal Democrat Yoshihide Suga (without factional affiliation), the former Prime Minister of Japan, and a former member of the Yokohama city council who entered the Diet as a newcomer in 1996.
2. 2020: 2020 Milestone — As of December 1, 2020, 435,659 eligible voters were registered in the district.
3. 2026: 2026 Milestone — Shōbun Nitta succeeded Suga in 2026 following his retirement.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kanagawa 2nd district

True or False: “The Kanagawa 2nd district was always a single-member constituency before the electoral reform of the 1990s.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Before the 1990s electoral reform, the area comprising the 2nd district was previously split between the former four-member 1st district and the former five-member 4th district.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Kanagawa 2nd district