July 6, 2021

Joint struggles of opposition parties, including the Japanese Communist Party, with concerned citizens produced a successful outcome in 12 constituencies in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election on July 4. A JCP candidate in five electoral districts and a Constitutional Democratic Party candidate or an independent candidate in seven districts won as a result of the joint struggles.

Supported by the CDPJ and a wide range of citizens, the JCP secured Metropolitan Assembly seats representing Bunkyo Ward, Toshima Ward, Kita Ward, Hino City, and Kitatama 4th constituencies.

In Hino City, JCP candidate Shimizu Toshiko won in a 2-seat battle, increasing the number of votes she received by 4,925, up 12.65 percentage points, from the previous election in 2017. In the 2-seat Kitatama 4th district, JCP candidate Hara Noriko was elected with the largest number of votes. The number of votes cast for Hara increased by 2,266, up 10.43 percentage points, from the previous election

Supported or recommended by the JCP, CDPJ candidates and independent candidates achieved a victory in Shibuya Ward, Nakano Ward, Musashino City, Koganei City, and three other constituencies.

In the single-seat Musashino City district, a CDPJ candidate won for the first time. JCP Secretariat Head Koike Akira visited the city, giving campaign speeches to support the candidate. In another single-seat district of Koganei City, with the backing of the JCP and the CDPJ, independent Kando Akiko defeated the incumbent.

JCP Chair Shii Kazuo at a street speech on July 5 near Shinjuku Station praised the electoral cooperation with the CDPJ as an important achievement. He expressed his determination to make the best use of this achievement to further develop the joint struggles of opposition parties with concerned citizens in order to gain success in the upcoming general election.

On the same day, Azumi Jun, Diet affairs chief of the CDPJ, said to the press corps, "The joint effort with other opposition parties, including the JCP, and citizens proved to be effective. If opposition parties unite in the upcoming general election, a change of government becomes a real possibility."