Japan Press Weekly

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2011 March 23 - 29 [TOKYO]

Koike calls for change in Ishihara policies disregarding Tokyo citizens’ lives

The Tokyo gubernatorial election set for April 10 was officially announced on March 24. Koike Akira, the candidate backed by the Association for a Progressive Metropolitan Administration, made his first campaign speech in front of Shinjuku Station.

Expressing his condolences for the Great East Japan Disaster victims, Koike showed his determination to establish “a welfare-conscious, disaster-resistant Tokyo that protects residents’ lives.”

Koike said, “The disaster has also hammered Tokyo. In the wake of the March 11 earthquake, soil liquefaction was confirmed at 90 places at a proposed site for the relocation of the Tsukiji fish market.” “Governor Ishihara’s plan to move the Tsukiji market to the Toyosu district in Koto Ward should be withdrawn, and the market should remain at the present site which suffered little damage from the disaster,” Koike added.

Regarding the ongoing nuclear power plant crisis in Fukushima Prefecture, Koike said, “Radioactive iodine was detected in the water at a purification plant in Tokyo’s Katsushika Ward. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government should immediately introduce a system to monitor the level of radioactive materials in the water continuously at the several purification plants and aqueducts across Tokyo.” Koike went on to say, “The Tokyo Metropolitan Government should provide its stock of bottled water to more households with young children and to childcare centers and also urge the national government to take measures to secure safe drinking water.”

Koike also said, “The need now for the government is to review its nuclear energy administration policy and put the top priority on public safety. I will work to turn Tokyo into a city utilizing safe, renewable energy.”

Koike concluded his speech, saying, “Let’s overcome Governor Ishihara’s policies disregarding lives, cutting welfare services, and weakening disaster countermeasures!”