Japanese Media: "Koike's Reelection in Tokyo Governor Election Certain"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] Japanese media including NHK and Kyodo News reported on the 5th, based on exit poll results, that the incumbent Yuriko Koike (67) is expected to secure re-election in the Tokyo Metropolitan Governor election.

According to NHK's exit poll results, the expected voter turnout for Governor Koike is close to 60%, and she is predicted to comfortably surpass competitors such as Taro Yamamoto, leader of Reiwa Shinsengumi, and Kenji Utsunomiya, former chairman of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

The Tokyo governor election, held at 1,800 polling stations from 7 a.m. on the day, ended at 8 p.m. Vote counting is expected to be completed by early morning on the 6th.

Although Governor Koike is not a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), she is generally classified as a pro-government figure. The LDP also refrained from fielding a candidate in consideration of Koike in this election.

Governor Koike did not conduct any street campaigns, citing the prevention of COVID-19 spread, and only conducted online election campaigns using social media.

Kenji Utsunomiya, supported by an opposition coalition including the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Communist Party, and the Social Democratic Party, criticized Governor Koike's response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) through street campaigns and other means.

Taro Yamamoto, known as a maverick in Japanese politics, pledged to cancel the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics postponed to July next year.

Meanwhile, Governor Koike served one term in the House of Councillors (resigned mid-term), eight terms in the House of Representatives, and held positions such as Minister of Defense, Minister of the Environment, and Minister in charge of Okinawa and Northern Territories before running as an independent in the 2016 Tokyo governor election, becoming the first female governor of Tokyo.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.