In a nation where there are few foreign-born politicians in local assemblies or in the Diet, the sight of a candidate openly touting his or her foreign background through loudspeakers on the campaign trail can come as a surprise.
Reactions to their candidacy vary — from welcoming to incredulous to downright hostile.
But like it or not, as Japanese society has become increasingly diverse over the years as the nation brings in more foreign workers through various channels, "there will be more and more candidates with non-Japanese backgrounds in the future," said Atsushi Kondo, a professor of immigration policy studies at Meijo University.