March 3, 2011
More than 20,000 Internet users watched a live press conference with Koike Akira, a progressive independent candidate for Tokyo governor, on March 1. Over 10,000 viewers posted questions or comments during the conference.
This event was hosted by the Free Press Association of Japan, consisting of Internet media, magazines, and freelance writers. It was broadcast live through the video streaming website, “Nico Nico Live.”
Koike stated that he wants to implement in Tokyo an ordinance on public works contracts that guarantees appropriate contract price, stressing, “Work projects using tax money should not create the ‘working poor’ conditions.” He suggested that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government implement other measures to produce more jobs for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) such as subsidies for residents’ house renovations and a system to place orders for repairs at public facilities to local SMEs.
Concerning the rise in the “housing poor” (people with no place to live in), Koike stated that the Tokyo government during the 12 years since Governor Ishihara Shintaro took office has not built even one public housing complex. He pledged to “establish a city where residents can continue to live in dignity” by constructing 2,000 housing units a year and providing rent subsidies to low income residents.
In response to a question on how to tackle the shortage of nurses at medical and welfare facilities in the capital of Japan, Koike proposed building more nursing schools run by the metropolitan government, pointing out that the current Ishihara administration has reduced the number of such schools from 11 to 7.
Koike criticized the tougher regulations that the Tokyo government recently implemented on sexual depictions in manga comics and anime films, stressing that they will violate the freedom of expression and threaten creativity. He vowed to propose the abolition of the regulations to the metropolitan government in response to the opposition raised by publishers and manga artists.
This event was hosted by the Free Press Association of Japan, consisting of Internet media, magazines, and freelance writers. It was broadcast live through the video streaming website, “Nico Nico Live.”
Koike stated that he wants to implement in Tokyo an ordinance on public works contracts that guarantees appropriate contract price, stressing, “Work projects using tax money should not create the ‘working poor’ conditions.” He suggested that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government implement other measures to produce more jobs for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) such as subsidies for residents’ house renovations and a system to place orders for repairs at public facilities to local SMEs.
Concerning the rise in the “housing poor” (people with no place to live in), Koike stated that the Tokyo government during the 12 years since Governor Ishihara Shintaro took office has not built even one public housing complex. He pledged to “establish a city where residents can continue to live in dignity” by constructing 2,000 housing units a year and providing rent subsidies to low income residents.
In response to a question on how to tackle the shortage of nurses at medical and welfare facilities in the capital of Japan, Koike proposed building more nursing schools run by the metropolitan government, pointing out that the current Ishihara administration has reduced the number of such schools from 11 to 7.
Koike criticized the tougher regulations that the Tokyo government recently implemented on sexual depictions in manga comics and anime films, stressing that they will violate the freedom of expression and threaten creativity. He vowed to propose the abolition of the regulations to the metropolitan government in response to the opposition raised by publishers and manga artists.
