TOKYO: Polls opened Sunday to elect a brand new Tokyo governor with incumbent Yuriko Koike challenged by opposition determine Renho, two outstanding girls in Japan’s male-dominated political sphere.
Japan has by no means had a lady prime minister and a big majority of lawmakers are males, however Tokyo, accounting for a tenth of the nationwide inhabitants and a fifth of the economic system, has been run since 2016 by former tv anchor Koike, 71.
Whereas few now tout the previous defence and atmosphere minister as a attainable future prime minister, as many as soon as did, polls counsel that the media-savvy conservative will win a 3rd straight time period within the metropolis of 14 million folks.
This shall be some reduction forward of nationwide elections due by late 2025 to the ruling Liberal Democratic Get together of deeply unpopular Prime Minister Fumio Kishida which backs Koike, regardless that she broke away from the LDP in 2017.
Kishida, whose public assist price has been dwindling to round 20 per cent, partly resulting from a political funds scandal revealed late final 12 months, will even face the LDP management election later this 12 months.
The Tokyo vote comes after new authorities knowledge confirmed the beginning price hit a file low of 1.20 final 12 months, with Tokyo’s determine 0.99 — the primary Japan area to fall under one.
Pledges of household assist
Each Koike and her nearest rival Renho, who goes by one title, have pledged to increase assist for parenting, with Koike promising subsidised epidurals.
“After having their first youngster, I hear folks say they do not need to expertise that ache once more,” Koike mentioned, in response to native media.
“I would like folks to see childbirth and elevating kids as a happiness, not a threat,” mentioned the incumbent, who has campaigned with an AI model of herself.
Renho, in the meantime, pledged to assist younger folks “and increase their life selections.”
“I’ll implement real long-term fertility measures,” mentioned Renho, who’s backed by Japan’s primary opposition events.
“I will even realise clear fiscal reforms, the place everybody can test the scenario.”
A darkish horse within the race could possibly be unbiased candidate Shinji Ishimaru, 41, a former mayor of Akitakata in western Japan, current polls additionally recommended, with some swing voters preferring him over Koike and Renho.
“Should you look away, interest-based politics and pork-barrel initiatives will rear their ugly heads,” he mentioned in a speech Saturday, stressing his monetary experience as a former banker.
A file 56 persons are standing within the election, not all of them severe, with one dressing as “The Joker” and calling for polygamy to be legalised. Others are campaigning for extra golf, and poker or simply to promote their premises within the red-light district.
Native media speculate that the turnout could also be up on condition that early votes solid by way of July 5 reached 1.65 million, up 20 per cent from 1.38 million in 2020.
General turnout was 55 per cent within the final vote, down from practically 60 % when Koike was first elected in 2016.
Poll packing containers will shut at 08:00 pm (1100 GMT).
Japan has by no means had a lady prime minister and a big majority of lawmakers are males, however Tokyo, accounting for a tenth of the nationwide inhabitants and a fifth of the economic system, has been run since 2016 by former tv anchor Koike, 71.
Whereas few now tout the previous defence and atmosphere minister as a attainable future prime minister, as many as soon as did, polls counsel that the media-savvy conservative will win a 3rd straight time period within the metropolis of 14 million folks.
This shall be some reduction forward of nationwide elections due by late 2025 to the ruling Liberal Democratic Get together of deeply unpopular Prime Minister Fumio Kishida which backs Koike, regardless that she broke away from the LDP in 2017.
Kishida, whose public assist price has been dwindling to round 20 per cent, partly resulting from a political funds scandal revealed late final 12 months, will even face the LDP management election later this 12 months.
The Tokyo vote comes after new authorities knowledge confirmed the beginning price hit a file low of 1.20 final 12 months, with Tokyo’s determine 0.99 — the primary Japan area to fall under one.
Pledges of household assist
Each Koike and her nearest rival Renho, who goes by one title, have pledged to increase assist for parenting, with Koike promising subsidised epidurals.
“After having their first youngster, I hear folks say they do not need to expertise that ache once more,” Koike mentioned, in response to native media.
“I would like folks to see childbirth and elevating kids as a happiness, not a threat,” mentioned the incumbent, who has campaigned with an AI model of herself.
Renho, in the meantime, pledged to assist younger folks “and increase their life selections.”
“I’ll implement real long-term fertility measures,” mentioned Renho, who’s backed by Japan’s primary opposition events.
“I will even realise clear fiscal reforms, the place everybody can test the scenario.”
A darkish horse within the race could possibly be unbiased candidate Shinji Ishimaru, 41, a former mayor of Akitakata in western Japan, current polls additionally recommended, with some swing voters preferring him over Koike and Renho.
“Should you look away, interest-based politics and pork-barrel initiatives will rear their ugly heads,” he mentioned in a speech Saturday, stressing his monetary experience as a former banker.
A file 56 persons are standing within the election, not all of them severe, with one dressing as “The Joker” and calling for polygamy to be legalised. Others are campaigning for extra golf, and poker or simply to promote their premises within the red-light district.
Native media speculate that the turnout could also be up on condition that early votes solid by way of July 5 reached 1.65 million, up 20 per cent from 1.38 million in 2020.
General turnout was 55 per cent within the final vote, down from practically 60 % when Koike was first elected in 2016.
Poll packing containers will shut at 08:00 pm (1100 GMT).
