Ryuichi Yoneyama, a former governor of Niigata Prefecture, has announced his aspiration to participate in the gubernatorial election set to take place on May 14, with results expected by May 31. After losing in the recent House of Representatives election in the Niigata 4th district without a proportional comeback, Yoneyama remains optimistic, stating in an interview with Asahi Shimbun that he is prepared for his time when it comes. The current governor, Hideyo Hanazumi, 67, is also campaigning for a third term.

Yoneyama's return to the political arena will likely center on controversies surrounding the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, which the current governor approved last November. Yoneyama emphasizes the need for serious discussions concerning prefectural governance, hinting that he would contest the existing narrative surrounding the nuclear plant's safety and its implications for public health and safety. He previously served as governor from 2016 until 2018, when he resigned due to personal issues, and he has since represented Niigata in the House of Representatives for two terms.

In an interview on the 22nd, Yoneyama metaphorically compared politicians to soccer players, asserting the importance of perseverance to remain competitive in politics. Despite the strong performance of the Liberal Democratic Party in the recent elections, which complicates his pathway to candidacy, Yoneyama aims to decide by mid-April and expresses his hope to be a viable candidate for those seeking alternative options in an increasingly conservative political landscape.