The Japanese Diet passed the secondary-capital law on June 24 [1], with final confirmation of its enactment occurring during a House of Councillors plenary session on June 25 [1].

This legislative milestone sets the stage for a high-stakes political maneuver in Osaka. By aligning the governor's election with a public referendum, the Nippon Ishin no Kai (Innovation Party) hopes to maximize voter turnout and streamline the process for a major administrative overhaul of the region.

Yoshimura Hirofumi, the Innovation Party leader and governor of Osaka, said he intends to pursue a combined election date. He said that holding both votes at once allows voters to cast their ballots in a single visit and reduces overall costs [3]. Earlier this month, Yoshimura said he was also considering aligning these votes with the unified local elections [4].

The proposed referendum on the Osaka Metropolis Plan would mark the third time [5] that residents have been asked to vote on the restructuring of the city and prefecture. The plan remains a cornerstone of the Innovation Party's policy platform, seeking to consolidate local government power to accelerate regional development.

However, the strategy has drawn criticism from political opponents who suggest the timing is designed to provide an unfair advantage. Tamaki Yuichiro, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, said the proposal shows a disregard for the Diet and said the move is intended to make the election more favorable for the Innovation Party [3].

Despite the opposition, the enactment of the secondary-capital law provides the legal framework necessary for Osaka to elevate its status and potentially integrate its administrative functions more closely with national goals [1].

“I believe we should aim for a combined election, considering that voters can vote in one go and costs can be reduced.”

The passage of the secondary-capital law combined with a potential triple-vote day creates a critical juncture for Osaka's governance. If the Innovation Party successfully synchronizes the governor's race with the metropolis referendum, they may leverage a high-turnout election to secure a mandate for a structural reorganization that has previously failed to gain consensus. This move tests the balance between administrative efficiency and the risk of electoral manipulation in Japanese local politics.