Japan Press Weekly

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2016 July 13 - 19 [POLITICS]

Campaign for Tokyo gubernatorial race kicks off

Official campaigning for the Tokyo gubernatorial election began on July 14. Veteran journalist Torigoe Shuntaro, the candidate jointly backed by the four opposition parties including the Japanese Communist Party, called for a change in the metropolitan government to put Tokyoites’ lives and quality of living first.

The gubernatorial race came about after former governor Masuzoe Yoichi resigned in June due to his political funds scandal. The election campaign is virtually a three-way fight between Torigoe, former Defense Minister Koike Yuriko, and ex-Internal Affairs Minister Masuda Hiroya who is supported by the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties.

Torigoe held a kick-off rally near Shinjuku Station. Referring to ex-governor Masuzoe’s corruption scandal, he underscored the need to strictly check how taxpayers’ money is being used. He promised to allocate a substantial budget to eliminate poverty, reduce the widening gap between rich and poor, and improve the living environment in the capital.

JCP lawmaker Kasai Akira and the representatives of the three other opposition parties also joined the rally in support of Torigoe.

On that day, conservative candidates Masuda and Koike delivered their first speeches as well. However, neither of them mentioned the fact that the two former metropolitan governors backed by the governing parties were forced to step down one after the other because of scandals related to misuse of political funds.

Masuda expressed his intent to continue Masuzoe’s policy focusing on large-scale development, noting that he will work to make Tokyo the “greatest international city in the world”.

Koike said that she will promote Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s economic policy “Abenomics” aggressively in Tokyo, a policy which is oriented toward benefiting large corporations.

The election is slated for July 31.

Past related article:
> Shii: JCP will work to field joint opposition candidate in Tokyo gubernatorial race [June 16, 2016]