A JCP member again succeeds in winning reelection as Tokyo’s Komae City mayor

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

A JCP member again succeeds in winning reelection as Tokyo’s Komae City mayor

In a close race for Tokyo’s Komae City mayor, Yano Yutaka, a Japanese Communist Party member, won a fourth term on June 22 by defeating by a large margin two candidates, one backed by the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties, and the other by the Democratic Party-Seikatsusha Network.

In the election with voter turnout at 48.51 percent, Yano received 13,396 votes. The LDP-Komei supported candidate Takahashi Kiyoharu and Democratic Party supported Ito Masaaki respectively obtained 9,727 and 7,173.

During the campaign,Yano and his supporters’ group called on voters to join forces to make Komae City a city in which everyone, including children, handicapped, working, and the elderly, can enjoy an even more comfortable life by building on what he has achieved so far in cooperation with Komae residents in the last 12 years.

The two other candidates called for an end to the communist mayor-led city administration shouting slogans such as “change the direction!” and “Change the head of the city!” They campaigned with help from Dietmembers and Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly members.

In response to these anti-communist attacks, Yano’s supporters’ group carried out a grassroots campaign to reach out to voters and said, “The city has become better off since Yano took office. Let’s further create a better city for all!”

Yano at a news conference held after he was declared the winner said, “I want to thank all those who have given me their support which has made it possible to win this fierce race. I promise to fulfill my campaign promise to help build an even better Komae City.” - Akahata, June 23, 2008