Satoshi Mitazono

is a Japanese politician and journalist who is the former governor of Kagoshima Prefecture. He defeated the incumbent Yūichirō Itō at an election held on 10 July 2016.

Early life and education Mitazono was born in Ibusuki, Kagoshima in 1958. In 1980 he graduated from Waseda University with a bachelor's degree in education and was employed by TV Asahi as a political journalist.

Journalistic career During his career with TV Asahi, Mitazono was responsible for reporting on national politics. From 1990 he was the political reporter for News Station, Asahi's daily night-time news program. During a press conference in front of the prefectural government's building, he stated that the gap between regions was widening and that he wanted to revolutionise and bring life to Kagoshima, with ideas to expand the role of women. Mitazono officially declared his candidacy in February 2016 and the pair were the only two candidates when the election was formally announced in June.

Mitazono was considered a "conservative independent" candidate, and received official endorsement from the Democratic and Social Democratic parties. He also received support from conservative local assembly members and former prefectural assembly members, despite the conservative Liberal Democratic and Komeito parties officially endorsing Itō.

During the campaign, the biggest issue was whether the 12-year governorship of Itō should continue, or whether it was time for change in Kagoshima. In Satsumasendai, the location of the operating nuclear plants, Miatzono received 23,176 votes, just seven more than Itō. Mitazono responded by visiting the company's headquarters in Fukuoka to submit a second request two days later.

In the 2020 Kagoshima gubernatorial elections, Mitazono lost to independent candidate Kōichi Shiota.

In the 2021 general elections, Mitazono ran as an independent candidate in the Kagoshima 2nd district and won a seat in the House of Representatives.