3rd Governor Suzuki Recall Demonstration Draws Record Crowd in Sapporo

On October 12, 2025, the '3rd Governor Suzuki Recall Demonstration' was held at Odori Park in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Despite the rainy weather, it drew the largest turnout to date. Participants vociferously demanded the resignation of the Hokkaido Governor, shouting 'Suzuki, resign!', expressing the strong dissatisfaction and anger of Hokkaido residents towards the governor's policies.

The main focus of the demonstration centered on Governor Suzuki's promotion of large-scale mega-solar development plans and what is perceived as an immigration policy that prioritizes foreign nationals. Strong opposition was voiced, particularly against mega-solar construction in the Kushiro Wetlands, a globally important wetland, with participants expressing the heartfelt wish to 'protect Hokkaido's beautiful nature.' Critical placards branding the governor as a 'traitor governor' were also displayed, highlighting deep-seated concerns about Hokkaido's land being sold to foreign capital, especially from China. Governor Suzuki's role as a 'Special Advisor to the NAGOMi Hokkaido Association' was also cited as a reason behind the criticism of his immigration policies.

Comments such as 'It warms my heart to see so many people raising their voices,' 'The fact that so many people have stood up can no longer be hidden,' and 'Hokkaido residents have awakened' spread across social media, conveying the fervor of the demonstration. The sight of Hokkaido residents choosing to protest over sightseeing on the middle day of a three-day weekend suggests the deep-seated nature of their dissatisfaction with the governor.

Conversely, some critical opinions regarding the demonstration were observed, including accusations that participants were 'making false claims against the governor and causing reputational damage to Hokkaido,' or even suggesting they might be 'some kind of operatives.' Concerns were also raised that local media might not adequately cover this large-scale civic movement.

This 'Governor Suzuki Recall Demonstration' is also linked to the 'Anti-Immigration Policy Demonstration' scheduled to be held simultaneously nationwide on October 26, suggesting the possibility that Hokkaido's civic movement could spread into a national trend. It has become clear that many Hokkaido residents are taking action 'to protect the future of Hokkaido,' and future developments are being closely watched.

The context

Naomichi Suzuki is the current Governor of Hokkaido, serving since 2019. The 'mega-solar' developments refer to large-scale solar power generation facilities. Opposition to these in the Kushiro Wetlands stems from environmental concerns, as wetlands are vital ecosystems and globally recognized for their biodiversity. The concerns about 'immigration policy' often relate to the broader debate in Japan about foreign workers and residents, and the perceived impact on local communities and resources. The term '売国道知事' (baikokudo chiji), meaning 'traitor governor,' is a strong accusation suggesting that the governor is betraying national or regional interests, in this case, by allegedly allowing foreign entities, particularly Chinese capital, to acquire significant land in Hokkaido. The 'NAGOMi Hokkaido Association' is an organization that works on multicultural coexistence and supporting foreign residents in Hokkaido, which the protesters perceive as promoting policies detrimental to the interests of local Japanese residents.