Japan Press Weekly

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2011 March 16 - 22 [TOKYO]

Ishihara to run for 4th term in Tokyo gubernatorial election

Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro announced on March 11 that he will seek a fourth term in the gubernatorial election slated for April 10.

Since he took office in 1999, the 78 year-old governor has slashed subsidies for medical expenses for the elderly and disabled as well as other budgets for residents’ welfare and livelihood programs while using a vast amount of tax money for promoting large development projects, establishing the SinGinko Tokyo bank, and on the bidding to host the Olympic Games.

Commenting on Ishihara’s candidacy, Koike Akira, the Tokyo gubernatorial candidate backed by the Association for a Progressive Metropolitan Administration, stated on the same day, “I am calling for ‘a drastic change from the Ishihara administration’ and ‘a new welfare city, Tokyo’. The points at issue will be clearer with Ishihara’s entry in the race.” “I call on the governor to hold debates fairly and squarely,” he added.

Kanagawa Governor Matsuzawa Shigefumi, who announced his candidacy for the Tokyo gubernatorial election on March 1, held a press conference on March 14 and stated that he will withdraw from the race and support Ishihara.