Thread by @mrjeffu

Interesting Posters of the 2022 Japan Upper House Election- a thread - Over the course of the next couple weeks, I will share what I find to be the most unique, cool, and/or strange candidate posters. First up: the "Nuclear Fusion Party" guy running in Tokyo!

As the name of his party suggests, Kuwajima Yasufumi wants Japan to build fusion reactors. You might recognize him from the unsettlingly weird soundtruck he has driven around Tokyo for years:

Next up: Nakamura Midori, also running in Tokyo. She is a far-right activist who opposes American military bases in Japan. Her poster states that she will relocate all American military bases in Okinawa to Tokyo (something nobody in Tokyo would want).

Setta Kenji's poster (Tokyo): Although he is running for the NHK Party, the poster says he is representing the "Reduce the Number of Lawmakers Party" - he calls for the removal of all the useless politicians currently in the Diet. [in small text: tax cuts & deregulation]

Yoshino Masahide, an independent running in Mie with the endorsement of the CDP and DPP, has selected a unique pose. The poster says "make it with you," but his outstretched arms make me feel like this is a "Pick a Hand" challenge.

"Legalize Cannabis" - a pretty straightforward message from Kobayashi Hiroshi, who is running in Saitama. His poster says "Japan Cannabis Party," but he is officially listed as an NHK Party candidate. Here is one of his pro-legalization videos:

Three CDP candidates with the same concept - smile with your kids on your poster and show everyone you are a young politician that wants to make a better future for the nation's children: Moteki Kunio (Kagawa), Murakami Taijiro (Shimane/Tottori), and Saito Yoshitaka (Aichi).

NHK candidate Saito Kosei (Aichi) with his dog and an apple. He claims his wife falsely accused him of domestic violence, and wants to change the laws that stop fathers in such circumstances from being able to see their "kidnapped" children. ameblo.jp/henshinman77/e…

Bestselling author Ototake Hirotada (Tokyo) in front of the Diet Building. The poster says "Towards a society in which you don't have to give up." Tabloid reports about his extramarital affairs reportedly cost him an LDP nomination in 2016, but now he's running as an independent

The LDP lost a seat in Aomori back in 2016, so they've brought in some heavy weaponry - a former sumo wrestler - to take it back. Saitō Naohito is shown alongside an image of himself back when he wrestled under the name Hayateumi Hidehito.

Here's the poster of the incumbent Upper House member for Aomori, Tanabu Masayo of the Constitutional Democratic Party. Aomori is famous for apples, so she is holding one. For some reason the CDP logo is on the apple.

Onozuka Kiyoto (NHK, Kanagawa) paid an illustrator to draw him in the style of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure because he likes #JJBA. The "If you're an idiot, go vote" slogan is parodying a famous line from the manga Dragon-Zakura. Image from @yusuken_lab

A poster for perennial candidate Gotō Teruki (Independent, Tokyo) includes a list of the 13 elections he lost between 2011 and 2021. There are also images of his weirdest campaign gimmicks, such as dressing up like an eggplant:

"It's impossible for me to win, but..." -The NHK Party is using this template for a lot of its posters, with candidates telling voters that each vote helps them get a greater share of subsidy money that the government pays to political parties. (Daniel Yoshimoto - Fukui)

Hashimoto Hiroyuki (NHK, Kanagawa): What the hell does "super funbaba" mean? Japanese social media users are asking the same question. Humbaba? Is it nonsense words to catch our attention? Or maybe a reference to an old Goto Teruki speech?

Ishin's poster for the Kochi/Tokushima district. In the lower left says to vote for Kiuchi Takatane on the national ballot because he is the great-great-grandson of famous historical figure from Kochi: Mitsubishi founder Iwasaki Yatarō. (image via @yusuken_lab)

"There is only love!" Ikai Noriyuki (NHK Party, Kanagawa) dishes out some puns: His "party" (to) is going to "crea-to a good nation." He also offers an alternative spelling of his name with kanji that can be read with the same sounds as the the words for "cool handsome guy."

Oshikoshi Seiichi of the "Wake Up Japan Party" is running in Osaka. He leads a group of "targeted individuals" who believe someone is out to get them. The poster mentions organized stalking, microwaves, nanochips, and bioweapons. npotij.com

Another "Wake Up Japan!" slogan in Osaka, from Nishitani Hisayoshi of Restoration Political Party - New Wind, a small right wing nationalist party that has been around since the 1990s. The placement of their red logo under that black text hurts my eyes...shimpu.sakura.ne.jp

Ishin Candidate Saigo Ayumi's poster tells voters to elect her as Kagoshima's first-ever female national lawmaker. Her husband (lower left), the great-great-grandson of famous Kagoshima native Saigo Takamori, is running on Ishin's national PR ballot.

Komiyama Hiroshi is running in Tokyo as a candidate for the Smile Party. His poster describes him as the successor to smile therapy enthusiast Mac Akasaka, one of Tokyo's most famous perennial candidates. komiyamahiroshi.jimdofree.com

Matsushita Shinpei, LDP incumbent for Miyazaki, geared up for a fight. He was a supporter of the nationalist right, but many internet rightists turned on him after a 2021 tabloid article alleging an improper relationship with a Chinese "secretary." bunshun.jp/articles/-/507…

Mizuno Motoko is a CDP candidate for Kanagawa. Her poster features her nickname, "Space Mom" (#宇宙かあさん) because she is a mother of two who entered politics after working for 28 years at JAXA, Japan's space agency.

"Take off your masks and protect our children's future!" - Takahashi Yasushi is an independent running in Saitama. He is an anti-masker, anti-vaxxer, and climate change denier.

Kobayashi Satoru is running on the national PR ballot for Ishin no Kai. His poster tells voters that he's a doctor who can handle post-Covid policymaking. To emphasize this point he is wearing scrubs and a stethoscope.

A very simple poster design: "Kumamaru Eiji." It's just his name and a photo of his face. That's it. No fancy slogans or declarations about what party people should support. He is an NHK Party candidate running in Fukuoka.

A dramatic pose by Hoshino Tatsuya (NHK Party, Kyoto) - "Join me, young people - Politics is gonna change". According to his campaign video, he was drawn into politics after becoming involved with HIU, Takafumi Horie's online political "salon."

Tomida Tetsuyuki (NHK Party, Nara) is using the standard NHK poster design that I discussed earlier in this thread. Nevertheless, his poster stands out because he probably has the longest beard of any candidate running in this election.

A rare example of a poster without a face on it - Ubuhara Toshifumi (independent, Hiroshima) - the candidate's name is written in large hiragana letters. The other text mentions the need to reform the pension system. A QR code leads to his Twitter: @tubuhara_san

Watanabe Kunihiro's poster says he is running in Chiba as a representative of the "Agrarian Party" but he's actually running for the NHK Party. Like a few other NHK candidates, he cites the "HIU" Horiemon political salon as an influence.

Higashitani Yoshikazu is running as a national candidate for the NHK Party. He is a YouTuber with over 1 million subscribers. The slogan on his poster "True evil over fake justice" goes well with his reputation for exposing dark truths about Japan's entertainment industry.

"Expose the dark side of the Entertainment Industry" /"TV won't tell you the truth." YouTuber Suda Ryo, running in Chiba, points out that he is endorsed by Higashitani Yoshikazu's "Party" instead of writing his actual party affiliation (NHK Party).

The main poster for perennial candidate Gotō Teruki (Independent, Tokyo) - A unique color scheme together with odd slogans about national pride and achieving "world peace" and a "global restoration" as a representative of the "Metaverse Party". (Hat tip to @JHMorris89)

Kutsuzawa Ryoji (Japan Reform Party, Tokyo) with a rightist agenda on his poster: "Politics for Japanese people" - abolishing the pacifist part of Japan's constitution, scrambling NHK broadcast signals, no welfare payments for foreign residents, and a new anti-espionage law.

Is this an Ultraman poster? Nope, it's Uto Takashi, running for reelection as an LDP national candidate. Ultraman starts with "Uto" when written in Japanese and he's using an Ultraman-style font. It will draw extra attention because there's a new Ultraman movie in theaters now.

Saiki Yohei, 30, is the youngest candidate running in Tokyo this year. He is running as leader of the "Children's Party" aiming to pay families ¥10 million for each child they have. He is also openly gay and an outspoken advocate of LGBTQ rights.

Another candidate fighting for LGBTQ rights: Murata Shunichi, an activist who helped organize Tokyo's first-ever Trans March in 2021 (@TransMarch2021), is running on the Social Democratic Party's national PR ticket. murata.localinfo.jp

Posters for candidates of Japan's ruling party, the LDP, are usually pretty dull. But it is interesting that candidates don't stick to a standard party color. All of these are LDP: Miyazawa Yoichi (Hiroshima), Onoda Kimi (Okayama), Ōie Satoshi (Fukuoka), Yoshii Akira (Kyoto).

Enka singer Tsushima Issei (Independent) is running to "Cheer up Fukuoka with Music!" - His poster doesn't say anything about policies, but mentions two of his songs, "BABA Samba" and "Tsushima Strait"

Ida Towako (NHK Party, Kanagawa) wants Japan to stop neglecting its forests and make sustainable use of them. Her official campaign video features her walking through a forest with a 3D scanning device: (thanks to @RAWJapan for the photo)

Uta Sakura (Liberal Republican Party, Chiba) has figured out the solution to Japan's declining birthrate. She calls it the "3 NO MORE Policy" : No More Drugs, No More Suicide, and No More War. (Not mentioned on the poster - she is an antivaxxer)

Kaname Yukiko is running on the national PR ballot for the CDP. She is an activist for the rights of sex workers and her poster says she is running so that "everyone who works in the sex industry can have political power." yukkochan-club.com

Takahashi Riyo, founder of the adult video site FC2, is running on the NHK Party's national ticket. Instead of his party's usual "Crush NHK" slogan, his poster says "Crush Mosaic Censorship" - he wants to legalize uncensored pornography in Japan.

Tanaka Ken's poster states that he is running for the "Animal Rights Party" in Tokyo. He wants to create special police with expanded search powers to stop animal cruelty. But he's really a NHK Party candidate with a focus on preparing for war with China:

Matsuura Daigo (Ishin, National)'s poster tells voters that he is a gay politician who wants to "represent LGBT people who live normal lives" with "policies that suit our country." He thinks that following the example of overseas left-wing activists is the wrong path.

Kamitani Yuri is running as a national candidate for the Ishin Party. It says in big letters that she was the evening weather newscaster for NHK Nagano. Aside from her party and how to write her name on a ballot, that's the only information provided about her on this poster.