In the recent House of Representatives election held in Japan, Tamayo Marukawa of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) achieved a decisive victory in the Tokyo 7th district, which includes Minato and Shibuya wards. This win comes just over a year after a painful loss in the previous election, where she faced significant challenges, including criticisms related to financial misconduct within her political faction. Upon learning of her victory, Marukawa was visibly emotional, conveying her relief and gratitude, particularly emphasizing the importance of the votes cast by the citizens. She expressed her commitment to support Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi fully in the future political landscape.

Marukawa, a former television announcer and past cabinet minister in roles such as Environment Minister and Olympics Minister, had previously switched from the House of Councillors to contest the House of Representatives elections. However, her campaign faced significant hurdles due to the shadow of a funding scandal pertaining to her party, and despite securing party endorsement, she found her path complicated by other complications including some issues with her political finance reports. During her previous campaign, she was often seen emotionally apologizing to her supporters as her circumstances garnered considerable media coverage. The criticisms directed at her campaign were stark, and her political team responded by keeping a low profile for public appearances.

Through this election, which Marukawa described as one where 'the weight of each vote was felt like never before,' she aims to use her new mandate to strengthen leadership within her party and address issues that matter deeply to the constituents of her district. This victory does not only represent personal redemption for Marukawa but also signals a potential shift in the political dynamics within the LDP and its response to citizen concerns following recent scandals.