Sōichirō Miyashita
{{Short description|Japanese politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Sōichirō Miyashita
| native_name = {{nobold|宮下宗一郎}}
| native_name_lang = ja
| image = 青森県むつ市 市長 宮下宗一郎.jpg
| imagesize = 220px
| caption =
| office = Governor of Aomori Prefecture
| term_start = 29 June 2023
| term_end =
| predecessor = Shingo Mimura
| successor =
| office1 = Mayor of Mutsu
| term_start1 = 29 June 2014
| term_end1 = 3 March 2023
| predecessor1 = Junichiro Miyashita
| successor1 = Tomoya Yamamoto
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1974|5|12}}
| birth_place = Mutsu, Aomori, Japan
| death_date =
| death_place =
| constituency =
| party = Independent
| spouse =
| profession = Politician
| education = Aomori High School
| alma_mater = Tohoku University
}}
{{nihongo|Sōichirō Miyashita|宮下 宗一郎|Miyashita Sōichirō|born 12 May 1974}} is a Japanese politician and government official currently serving as the governor of Aomori Prefecture since 2023. Prior to being elected governor, he served as mayor of Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture for 3 terms from 2014 to 2023.
Before his involvement in electoral politics, Miyashita worked for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and was employed at the Consulate General of Japan, New York City.
Early life
Sōichirō Miyashita was born on May 12, 1974 in Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture. He attended Aomori High School, upon graduation, he attended Tohoku University, achieving a degree in law.[http://www.city.mutsu.lg.jp/index.cfm/13,0,12,280,html プロフィール - 青森県むつ市]
Work as Government Official
Upon graduating from university, Miyashita was employed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and oversaw the Tohoku Regional Development Bureau. In June, 2012, he began working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he served at the Consulate General of Japan, New York City as head of the Political and Economic Affairs Division.[https://www.city.mutsu.lg.jp/index.cfm/13,0,12,280,html プロフィール]
Mayor of Mutsu
On May 19, 2014, his father, {{ill|Junichiro Miyashita|ja|宮下順一郎}}, mayor of Mutsu City, died of a subarachnoid hemorrhage.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDG2000M_Q4A520C1CC0000/|title=宮下順一郎氏が死去 青森県むつ市長|newspaper=日本経済新聞|date=2018-05-20|accessdate=2018-07-04}} Sōichirō Miyashita would then run to succeed his father as mayor. He won the election with 21,844 votes.{{Cite news |title=トップインタビュー 宮下宗一郎・青森県むつ市長 |newspaper=時事ドットコム |date= |url=http://www.jiji.com/jc/v2?id=20140604top_interview31_14 |accessdate=30 May 2024}} Miyashita ran unopposed in both the 2018 and 2022 mayoral elections.{{cite news|title=＜むつ市長選＞宮下氏が無投票再選|newspaper=河北新報|date=28 May 2022|url=https://www.kahoku.co.jp/tohokunews/201805/20180528_21047.html|accessdate=30 May 2024}}{{Cite news|title=宮下氏が無投票3選 |newspaper=東奥日報|date=29 May 2022|author=|url=https://www.toonippo.co.jp/articles/-/1098659|accessdate=30 May 2024}}
On March 3rd, 2023, Miyashita resigned as mayor in order to pursue his candidacy in the 2023 Aomori gubernatorial election.{{Cite news|url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/local/aomori/news/20230303-OYTNT50128/|title=宮下・むつ市長辞職|newspaper=読売新聞|date=3 March 2023|accessdate=30 May 2024}}
Governor of Aomori Prefecture
While serving as mayor of Mutsu, Miyashita had announced his candidacy for the 2023 Aomori gubernatorial election on January 6, 2023 at a press conference meeting.{{Cite news|url=https://kahoku.news/articles/20230106khn000035.html|title=青森知事選 むつ・宮下宗一郎市長が出馬意向表明|newspaper=河北新報|date=6 January 2023|accessdate=30 May 2024}} In the election, Miyashita achieved a victory over his opponent, former mayor of Aomori City, Akihiko Onodera.{{Cite news|url= https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/20230604-OYT1T50115/|title=青森県知事選挙、前むつ市長・宮下宗一郎氏が初当選…前青森市長ら破る|newspaper=読売新聞|date=4 June 2023|accessdate=30 May 2024}} Miyashita ran as an independent without backing from any political party.{{cite news |title=Miyashita elected Aomori governor for first time |url=https://www.arabnews.jp/en/japan/article_96911/|access-date=30 May 2024|publisher=Arab News}}
Miyashita was inaugurated as governor on June 29, 2023.