Japan's hollowing out of regional legislatures deepens

TOKYO -- The hollowing out of local assemblies is becoming more serious in Japan, with fewer people willing to serve as legislators and with more decisions being made by mayors without assembly deliberations, undermining the foundation of local autonomy.

The number of local assembly members elected uncontested keeps increasing. In 2023, there was no race for 2,080 seats, or 14% of the 14,844 up for grabs. The high number came despite a decrease in the number of seats due to local financial difficulties and population declines.