Japan Press Weekly

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2012 December 12 - 18 [TOKYO]

Anti-nuke candidate fails to win in Tokyo governor race

Former president of Japan’s bar associations Utsunomiya Kenji on December 16 fell short of winning a victory in the Tokyo gubernatorial election, as he called for a shutdown of nuclear reactors, improvement in social welfare programs, and the recovery of democracy in Tokyo.

Along with the Japanese Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party and the Nippon Mirai no To (Tomorrow Party of Japan) also supported the candidate, and many concerned citizens organized grassroots campaigns for him throughout Tokyo.

The winner is the former governor Ishihara’s successor, Inose Naoki, supported by the Komei Party and the Nippon Ishin-no Kai (Japan Restoration Party). Inose will take over the Ishihara measures to cut back welfare services and give priority to large development projects without concern for Tokyo citizens’ livelihoods.

Later that night, Utsunomiya said to his campaigners and supporters at his office, “A circle of support has expanded throughout Tokyo and we were able to make connections with many people. That was the greatest result we achieved.”

Head of the JCP Tokyo assembly members’ group Yoshida Nobuo visited the Utsunomiya campaign office to thank him for the effort he made during the election campaign and handed a bouquet of flowers to him.

The day after the election, the Association for a Progressive Metropolitan Administration in which the JCP takes part issued the following statement:

“Tokyo voters saw practically nothing about the Tokyo gubernatorial race on TV. All TV reports focused on the Lower House election. We had difficulty informing Tokyoites of the maladministration of the Tokyo metropolitan government because Inose avoided engaging in any debates with Utsunomiya. We will continue making efforts to confront the maladministration and will deepen our wide-ranging cooperation with others for improving people’s living conditions, welfare services, and education. By doing so, we can look forward to forcing a change in the Tokyo administration.”