September 2002 Democratic Party of Japan leadership election
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23 September 2002
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 Map of the results of the party member vote. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The September 2002 Democratic Party of Japan leadership election was held on 23 September 2002 in accordance with the end of the presidential term which had commenced in 2000. Incumbent president Yukio Hatoyama was narrowly re-elected in a four-way race. In the runoff ballot between Hatoyama and fellow party co-founder Naoto Kan, the latter had a slight lead among the party's Diet members and candidates, but Hatoyama's large margin among prefectural representatives delivered him victory.[1]
The election was conducted via a points system:
- Each of the party's members of the National Diet had a vote worth two points. (366 points total)
- Registered party members or supporters could vote via mail. Points for this tier were distributed between the 47 prefectures, and awarded to candidates in proportion to votes won in each prefecture. (320 points total)
- Each of the party's approved candidates for future Diet elections had a vote worth one point. (83 points total)
- Each of the party's members of local councils or prefectural assemblies could vote via mail. Points for this tier were awarded to candidates in proportion to votes won. (47 points total)
In order to win, a candidate must secure more than 50% of points. If no candidate won more than 50%, a runoff was to be held the same day.
In the event of a runoff:
- Each of the party's members of the National Diet had a vote worth two points. (366 points total)
- Each of the party's approved candidates for future Diet elections had a vote worth one point. (83 points total)
- A representative from each of the party's prefectural branches had a vote worth one point. (47 points total)
Candidates
| Candidate | Offices held | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Yukio Hatoyama (age 55)  Hokkaido | Member of the House of Representatives (1986–) President of the Democratic Party of Japan (1996–97, 1999–) | |
.jpg) | Naoto Kan (age 55)  Tokyo | Member of the House of Representatives (1980–) President of the Democratic Party of Japan (1996–99) Minister of Health and Welfare (1996) | |
.jpg) | Yoshihiko Noda (age 47)  Chiba Prefecture | Member of the House of Representatives (1993–96, 2000–) | |
 | Takahiro Yokomichi (age 61) Hokkaido | Member of the House of Representatives (1969–83, 1996–) Governor of Hokkaido (1983–95) | |
Withdrew
- Seiji Maehara, member of the House of Representatives (1993–) – (endorsed Noda)
- Shigefumi Matsuzawa, member of the House of Representatives (1993–) – (endorsed Noda)
- Takashi Kawamura, member of the House of Representatives (1993–) – (endorsed Noda)
- Kansei Nakano, member of the House of Representatives (1976–) – (endorsed Hatoyama)
Contest
Hatoyama announced his intention to seek re-election on 8 August. He stated that a renewed term would mark the end of his partnership with secretary-general Naoto Kan, and that he would assert himself more as leader if re-elected.[2] Kan officially declared his candidacy on the 20th. He stated that Hatoyama "exerts himself on the basis of ideals" and lacks the ability to persuade and debate.[3] Both campaigned on an anti-LDP and anti-bureaucracy platform. At the time of nominations on 10 September, The Japan Times reported that Hatoyama was the frontrunner with about 60 legislators in his camp.[4]
A number of junior lawmakers, organised in the "Group to Create the Second Era of the DPJ," sought leadership renewal. Four members of the group – Seiji Maehara, Yoshihiko Noda, Takashi Kawamura, and Shigefumi Matsuzawa – each declared their candidacy. Hatoyama stated that he would resign from the Diet if any of them won the leadership.[5] All four agreed that they should unify their bids, but could not agree on who should run.[6] After it became clear that Matsuzawa and Kawamura could not gather the 20 nominations required to stand, each dropped out and endorsed Noda in late August.[7][8] Maehara and Noda then agreed to settle the dispute by combining the results of opinion polling with a survey of the DPJ caucus. Maehara was more popular among the public, but this was outweighed by Noda's advantage among Diet members; Maehara duly withdrew on 3 September and endorsed Noda.[9] Noda stated that Article 9 should be amended, but acknowledged public opinion would not accept it.[4]
Takahiro Yokomichi, who placed third in the September 1999 race, ran again. He was supported by trade unions and former members of the Japan Socialist Party on the party's left wing.[4] Party vice president Kansei Nakano initially declared his candidacy and sought support from former DSP members;[5][10] he withdrew shortly before nominations were taken and endorsed Hatoyama.[4]
A Kyodo News poll from August showed that Kan was the most popular candidate among the public, with 31.3% support. He was followed by Hatoyama with 13.4%, Yokomichi with 6.1%, and Nakano on 3%; Maehara, Noda, Kawamura, and Matsuzawa each polled at 2.5% or less.[5]