Trilateral Gubernatorial Race

Tokyo gubernatorial race looks like close competition among three candidates. Recent poll operated by some media organizations found that a female lawmaker was leading the race, followed by a journalist supported by major opposite parties. A bureaucrat supported by the leading parties was lagging behind a little. Four out of ten have still not determined whom to vote for.

Former Minister of Defense, Yuriko Koike, stepped forward to run for next Governor of Tokyo without any official support from major parties, even though she was affiliated to leading Liberal Democratic Party. With firm support from women in the age of fifties or younger, Koike enjoys the position as top runner in the poll of Mainichi Shimbun. In spite of another candidate with official support from LDP, Koike secures about 40% of approval from LDP supporters. This is typically divided race for LDP.

Anti-Abe journalist, Shuntaro Torigoe, is mainly supported by old voters in the age of sixties or older. Six out of ten supporters for Democratic Party or Japan Communist Party has decided to vote for Torigoe, while he also receive firm support from Social Democratic Party and People’s Life Party.

Former officer in Ministry of Construction, also experienced Governor of Iwate or Minister for Internal Affairs, Hiroya Masuda, is deadly chasing the other two. While he received official support from LDP and Komeito, Masuda has only 30% of support from LDP supporters. Although most voters who require administrative experience to next governor support Masuda, Koike mainly enjoys support from voters who want political experience. In terms of personality, Torigoe leave the other two behind.

The poll revealed that the voters in Tokyo were most interested in the policy for education or raising kids. Eight thousands of mothers are waiting for empty slot of child nursery school. Koike was the most popular candidate for those who focused on that policy. Administrative reform of Tokyo government was the third policy, following medical treatment, on which Torigoe was mostly expected to tackle. As a former bureaucrat, Masuda is not good on this policy.

One thing clear was that party affiliation would not affect the race. Although Komeito gives firm support to Masuda, official support of LDP for him does not guarantee his victory. As disappointed with consecutive scandals of former governors, the voters are tired of established politics exercised underground. Clean and transparent politics must be what they want the most.