politics

Koike elected Tokyo governor: exit poll

18 Comments
By Elaine Lies and Ami Miyazaki

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18 Comments
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l said she'd be elected. Tokyo truly is a right wing kind of town.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Yes, I thought so too because Tokyo people like having controversial governors. It's a trait. not a trend.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

@domtoidi - "Tokyo truly is a right wing kind of town."

Always has been. And Japan truly is a right wing kind of country.

If you are truly a progressive Japanese politician who does have radical ideas to help working mothers, working families, the economy, the energy crisis, and Okinawa, what chance do you have?

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Now starts the countdown to a scandal which will bring her down. Being an LDP politician, there'll be plenty.

From the South China Morning Post:

Koike has compared herself to Hillary Clinton and was once seen as having the best chance to be Japan’s first female prime minister

Hillary Clinton, my ar*e!

Being the right-wing, fascist governor of a city which is just about insular as you can get for a so-called 'international' city is not going to give you much sway on the international scene. You know what they say - people get the leaders they deserve.

By the way, is she going to Yasukuni again in mid-August?

From her wikipedia entry:

stating during her 2016 Tokyo gubernatorial campaign that she wanted to turn all of Tokyo into an "anime land."

Oh, sweet mother of Jesus!

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Anime land ... i would want that

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Sadly, no surprises here. Like many, I find Koike's views on history absurd and completely abhorrent and inexcusable. At the very least she needs to be educated on the history of her own country. Perhaps she should also be prosecuted in an international court as those have been in other developed countries for attempting to revise history - a despicable and unforgivable act. But when you consider how inexperienced and inappropriate or incompetent her rivals were, it is no surprise that she won. Her candidacy was also a big finger to Abe and the LDP who bitterly opposed her standing. I wonder if this aspect won her extra votes...? The only decent candidate was Utsunomiya but sadly, he pulled out. Regarding Torigoe, to think that hundreds of thousands of people could vote for someone to enter public office at the age of 76 is typical of Japan and highlights how out of touch many folks are. Many Japanese tell me on a daily basis how they feel deeply ashamed and disgusted at the state of Japanese politics. I could not agree more.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

She is outstanding and she won. I wish her good luck. This new vent should spark a new elite of women.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

before you go stating Tokyo is a right-wing town you should consider the voter turnout, which is conveniently missing from this article. The local elections typically have a turnout of less than 50%, usually only around 40%, The fact the right-wing nationalists keep getting voted in is because the people who vote are themselves right-wing orientated. The majority of the population, who don't vote, are made of people who couldn't be bothered to and others who don't vote because they don't like the government, which has to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard, but according to a recent survey it's true! 30% of the population don't vote because they don't like the government. (roll eyes)

The sprawling city of some 13.5 million people faces a plethora of problems such as an aging population, daycare shortage, and the ever-present possibility of a big earthquake.

But a big issue in the campaign was the 2020 Olympics, which Japan hopes will spur its economy, struggling to escape decades of deflation.

So, if you compare these two statements, the actual daily struggles of the people of Tokyo run second in priority to the flipping Olympics. The Olympics will do nothing to "spur the economy" if child care facilities are not increased and provisions made for the ever-increasing ageing population. There'll be less people working because they will be at home caring for the children or parents. No city has ever hosted the Olympics and come out in the black. And, any economic 'spur' will be very short lived once the Olympics are finished. It's just complete nonsense to rely on a six-month influx of tourists to 'spur' stagnated economy. Yes, it will create many temporary jobs and bring some money into the city, but it's not gonna last long!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

LDP members love men and boys but Tokyo people elected Koike. So, men loving politicians will wait for next time to find their cute boy as Tokyo people don't choose by their sex appetite.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

an economy based on printing money and construction fraud is not a functioning economy. By 2020 this will be as self evident as it is today, as it was decades ago....

The irony is that there really is an economy there, waiting patiently, but it's being held back by the oyagis, who would be swept away under any real economic changes

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The local elections typically have a turnout of less than 50%, usually only around 40%, The fact the right-wing nationalists keep getting voted in is because the people who vote are themselves right-wing orientated.

Dont be surprised when the results show that it's actually closer to 30% for this election. As of 7PM last night it was under 30% according to some news reports.

Voter apathy in this country is amazing, for so many people who seemingly hate many of the policies of the government, so few actually participate in the process to change it, which means to me that people are satisfied with their standing in life or really just dont give a damn. I have heard a couple of folks who did not vote once say, it's a pain in the arse, and I dont like giving up my free time going to vote.......

Folks like that NEED to be led around by the nose.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Hope her much better job in near future.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well,well some of the people here may have to "eat crow" the turnout for the electorate was 59 % no too shabby for any country I may say.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

59%, really? Pretty impressive, ready to eat crow here...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Isn't this local election's candidates a bunch of conservative right-wingers anyway? So Tokyo elects another one of those guys. The only change here is the gender.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

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