politics

Tokyo to elect new governor on Feb 9

3 Comments

Millions of voters in Tokyo will elect their new governor in February, the mega-city said Wednesday, after the resignation of the previous incumbent over a money scandal.

The gubernatorial election is set for Feb 9, a Sunday, with ballots to be counted on the same day, the city's election board said. Candidates must formally declare themselves on Jan 23 during business hours.

No-one has put their hat in the ring yet, but possible candidates being mentioned in the media include Hideo Higashikokubaru, a comedian-turned-politician who resigned as a lower house member this month, and education minister Hakubun Shimomura.

Flamboyant former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has declined to run after minor opposition Your Party asked him, according to the Mainichi daily.

Koizumi, who will turn 72 in January, has emerged as a high-profile critic of Japan's nuclear power industry, despite his pro-nuclear record in office.

He has urged his one-time protege and the nation's current leader Shinzo Abe to abandon atomic power.

Naoki Inose, 67, who had been one of the main faces of Tokyo's successful bid to host the 2020 Olympics, submitted his resignation last week, admitting he had been naive to accept an undeclared $500,000 from a hospital tycoon.

Inose was elected head of one of the world's biggest conurbations a year ago with a record 4.34 million votes, inheriting the mantle from firebrand nationalist Shintaro Ishihara.

But he had faced weeks of intense pressure over the money, which critics implied amounted to a bribe and an attempt to influence policy.

© (c) 2013 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

3 Comments
Login to comment

Flamboyant former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has declined to run after minor opposition Your Party asked him

Back off, Your Party. The democracy is not working here. Hope Koizumi still runs.

Koizumi is the only one who can handle both security risk management (terrorists, possible earthquake) and energy issues during Tokyo Olympic. Let the people of Tokyo decide.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I hope they can elect a new governor with integrity and accepts that there is no place for a private cause or sabotage against a group decision. He should be open about any circumstance which may affect impartiality, accepting the validity of others' opinions and expressing honest doubts at the right time. In this modern era it is a rare and precious person who has the quality of integrity. But it is worth bearing it in mind when decisions of choice have to be made.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Someone told me that the cost to hold this election is 5 billion yen. Ouch!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites