Tokyo's first female governor to run for re-election, top rival is also female

Ms. Koike (right) and her leading rival Renho

Kyodo News reported that voters in Tokyo today, July 7, cast their ballots for governor, with the focus on the re-election of Ms. Yuriko Koike (72 years old) against her leading rival, candidate Murata Renho (57 years old), two prominent female politicians in Japan.

The election has attracted much attention as the results could influence the future course of Japanese politics , with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Prime Minister Kishida Fumio being closely watched.

Japan has never had a female prime minister and most lawmakers are male, but Tokyo - a city that accounts for a tenth of the country's population and a fifth of its economy - has been run by Ms Koike since 2016.

Media polls show Koike leading the race, followed by her main rival Renho, a former lawmaker backed by the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), Social Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party.

While the election has drawn nationwide attention to the battle between prominent female politicians, Shinji Ishimaru, 41, the social media-savvy former mayor of Akitakata city in Hiroshima prefecture, western Japan, has seen a surge in support.

Voters can choose from a variety of candidates, including comedians, novelists and former lawmakers. Both Ms. Koike and Ms. Renho are former television hosts.

Ms. Koike, a former LDP lawmaker, was also Japan's first female defense minister, while Ms. Renho was a CDP member before running for governor.

Ishimaru, a former banker who gained attention for his YouTube posts featuring heated exchanges with city council members, has attracted millennial support and thousands of campaign volunteers.

Political experts say gubernatorial elections prioritize popularity over policy. In the latest race, 56 candidates are running, many of whom appear to be running solely to gain notoriety through radio broadcasts and posters.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nu-thong-doc-dau-tien-cua-tokyo-tai-tranh-cu-doi-thu-hang-dau-cung-la-nu-185240707083554879.htm