Aichi Governor Hideaki Omura to Seek Fifth Term in Early 2027 Election

Hideaki Omura will seek a fifth term as governor of Aichi prefecture in an election scheduled for early 2027, local media reported. The official campaign period begins on 21 January 2027 and voting and ballot counting are set for 7 February 2027. Mr Omura has cited pursuit of a possible integrated resort (IR) with casino and promotion of Nagoya as a "secondary capital" among his reasons for standing again.

Election timing and announcement

Local outlets Yomiuri Shimbun and The Mainichi reported that Mr Omura is expected to make a formal candidacy announcement at the Aichi prefectural assembly session convening in December. The campaign period for the governorship starts on 21 January 2027, with the vote and counting scheduled for 7 February 2027.

Integrated resort push and RFP process

Aichi prefectural authorities concluded a request-for-proposal process on 30 September 2026 that solicited private-sector interest in a possible IR scheme. Officials identified land adjacent to Chubu Centrair International Airport, near Nagoya city, as a potential site. The prefecture did not disclose the identities or the number of parties that participated in the RFP, citing the need to maintain a fair competitive environment.

The prefecture said it will conduct competitive dialogue with prospective developers until around the winter of the current Japanese fiscal year, which ends in March 2027. The national government's next application round for local governments wishing to host an IR opens on 6 May 2027 and runs until 5 November 2027.

Infrastructure and broader policy goals

Mr Omura has also made advancement of the delayed Chuo Shinkansen high-speed rail project a campaign objective. The under-construction route will run 265 kilometres (165 miles) between Tokyo’s Shinagawa station and Nagoya station, he told reporters according to local coverage. He also supports designating Nagoya as one of Japan's "secondary capital" cities, a national policy intended to disperse administrative capacity beyond Tokyo.

Other candidates and regional context

Shoichiro Noguchi, a 44-year-old head of an advertising company, has already announced his candidacy and is the officially endorsed candidate of regional party Genzei Nippon, local media reported. The reports did not state Mr Noguchi’s position on an IR.

The governor of Hokkaido prefecture, another potential IR suitor, is also seeking re-election in 2027 and has cited pursuit of an IR and "secondary capital" status for Sapporo, the outlets said.