Okayama 4th district

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Okayama 4th district

Role / Field:

A Japanese parliamentary constituency covering Kurashiki and Hayashima in central coastal Okayama.

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Okayama 4th district is a single-member electoral district for the House of Representatives, the lower house of the national Diet of Japan. It is located in central coastal Okayama and covers the city of Kurashiki and the town of Hayashima. As of September 2012, 367,702 eligible voters were registered in the district, giving it slightly below average vote weight.

Career & Major Achievements

The first representative for Okayama 4th district was Liberal Democrat Ryūtarō Hashimoto who had represented the five-member 2nd district before the electoral reform, as had his father Ryōgo before him. Hashimoto, hit by a scandal over political donations from the Japanese Dentists' Federation in 2004, retired from politics in the 2005 general election. His son Gaku tried to "inherit" the seat, but lost to Democrat Michiyoshi Yunoki by a margin of about 6,000 votes.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Hashimoto won a seat in the Chūgoku proportional representation block. In his second attempt in the 2009 general election, he lost to Yunoki by an even wider margin (sekihairitsu 72.4) and also failed to win a proportional seat. In his third attempt in the landslide election of 2012, Hashimoto won the district.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 2004: 2004 Milestone — Hashimoto, hit by a scandal over political donations from the Japanese Dentists' Federation in 2004, retired from politics in the 2005 general election.
2. 2009: 2009 Milestone — In his second attempt in the 2009 general election, he lost to Yunoki by an even wider margin (sekihairitsu 72.
3. 2012: 2012 Milestone — As of September 2012, 367,702 eligible voters were registered in the district, giving it slightly below average vote weight.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Okayama 4th district

True or False: “The Okayama 4th district has always been represented by members from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While Ryūtarō Hashimoto was associated with the LDP at times, the history shows representation by various political figures and parties.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Okayama 4th district