Japan Press Weekly

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2016 July 27 - August 2 [POLITICS]

Joint opposition candidate puts up good fight in Tokyo governor race

In the Tokyo gubernatorial election on July 31, Torigoe Shuntaro, the joint candidate of four opposition parties including the Japanese Communist Party, put up a good fight but was defeated by former Liberal Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives Koike Yuriko.

Torigoe obtained about 1.35 million votes (21% of the total number of votes cast), 1.4 times as much as the votes for a JCP-backed candidate in the 2014 gubernatorial election. Koike received 2.91 million votes (44%) and another major candidate Masuda Hiroya, who was endorsed by the LDP and the Komei Party, got 1.79 million votes (27%). Voter turnout stood at 59.73%.

The opposition parties’ electoral cooperation started in the House of Councilors election campaign and continued with the backing of the first joint candidate in a Tokyo governor race in more than 30 years.

Torigoe in the election campaign said that he will use taxpayers’ money by prioritizing people’s livelihoods and achieve a “zero” waiting list for children and the elderly to enter public care facilities. In addition, he promised to create a Tokyo which does not depend on nuclear power and to declare Tokyo to be a nuclear-free peace city.

Torigoe on the night of the election said to reporters that in order to counter and overcome the LDP-Komei ruling coalition, the opposition parties need to work together. He went on to say that in the gubernatorial race, the four opposition parties teamed up and waged a good fight. Torigoe expressed his hope that the opposition force will continue to work together in the next House of Representatives election.

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira at a press conference held on the same night commented on the election result. He offered his appreciation to those who worked hard to support Torigoe and for the success of the extent of collaboration among opposition parties and citizens.

Koike underscored the significance of the fact that the opposition force/citizens collaboration had developed further through the latest election campaign. He also said that the opposition parties are making policy agreements not only at the national level but also at local levels, which will have a great influence in realizing Tokyoites’ demands.

Koike said that in cooperation with many citizens and other political parties, the JCP will do its utmost to help implement policies that Torigoe proposed in the election campaign.

Past related article:
> Opposition alliance’s candidate for Tokyo governor publishes election platform [July 17&18, 2016]