Translation guide
In Japanese, a mayoral election is typically expressed as 市長選挙 (しちょうせんきょ) or more casually as 市長選 (しちょうせん). The term varies slightly depending on the type of municipality.
The most common and neutral way to refer to a mayoral election in a city.
Standard formal term for a mayoral election. Used in official contexts and news.
The mayoral election will be held next month.
Abbreviated, more casual form of 市長選挙. Common in everyday conversation and headlines.
I'm curious about the results of the mayoral election.
In Tokyo's 23 special wards, the head is called 区長 (くちょう), so the election is 区長選挙.
For towns (町) and villages (村), the head is 町長 or 村長, so the election term changes accordingly.
In casual speech and news headlines, 市長選挙 is often shortened to 市長選. Similarly, 区長選挙 becomes 区長選, 町長選挙 becomes 町長選, and 村長選挙 becomes 村長選.