Official campaigning for the Tokyo gubernatorial election began on Thursday, with incumbent Yuriko Koike, who is seeking to secure her third four-year term with the effective backing of the ruling bloc, challenged by the main opposition-backed politician Renho. The focus of the July 7 race, viewed as a proxy war between the national ruling and opposition parties, will be on whether Tokyo's around 11 million voters want a change in the metropolitan government from that under Koike, who became the first female leader of Japan's capital in 2016. Tokyo's gubernatorial race always draws significant attention as voters can directly elect the city's governor from a diverse range of candidates.
Koike and Renho, both TV anchors-turned-politicians, have experience heading political parties. More than 40 people have thrown their hats into the ring, with notable candidates including former Air Self-Defense Force chief Toshio Tamogami, 75, and Shinji Ishimaru, 41, the former mayor of Akitakata in Hiroshima Prefecture. The oldest candidate is Dr NakaMats at 95.
Koike, whose campaign slogan is "protect the capital," told supporters at her election office near the metropolitan government building in Shinjuku Ward, "I will safeguard the lives and livelihoods of Tokyo residents and develop the economy." Renho, meanwhile, said in a stump speech in front of JR Nakano Station near Shinjuku, "I will work on real administrative and financial reforms. I want to become the leader and take the lead in.