2024 Tokyo gubernatorial election

2024 Tokyo gubernatorial election

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Candidate Yuriko Koike Renhō Saitō Party Independent Independent Supported by Tomin First, LDP, Komeito, DPFP CDP, JCP, SDP   Candidate Shinji Ishimaru Toshio Tamogami Party Independent Independent

Governor before election Yuriko Koike Independent Elected Governor TBD

The 2024 Tokyo gubernatorial election will take place on 7 July 2024 to elect the Governor of Tokyo.

The election will take place simultaneously with by-elections to replace 9 vacant seats in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly.

Background[edit]

Incumbent Governor Yuriko Koike is running for re-election to a third term, receiving the endorsement of the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito, Democratic Party For the People, as well as the regional party Tomin First no Kai, which Koike founded.^[1]

Koike's main opponent is expected to be lawmaker Renhō, who has received the endorsement of the main left-wing opposition parties; the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party.^[2] Shinji Ishimaru, the former Mayor of Akitakata, and Toshio Tamogami, the former Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force are running without the support of any major parties.^[3] Free Education For All and Sanseitō instructed its members to vote freely, while Nippon Ishin no Kai and Reiwa Shinsengumi did not field or endorse a candidate.^[4]

Minor candidates include ultranationalist and anti-Korean political activist Makoto Sakurai, running under the Japan First Party,^[5] and Atsuhiko Kurokawa, who was arrested in June 2024 for alleged election interference and sabotage during a House of Representatives by-election in April 2024, running under the Tsubasa Party.^[6][7]

56 candidates have filed to run in the election, with nearly half of them belonging to Takashi Tachibana's NHK Party,^[8] the highest number of registered candidates to date.^[9] Media outlets have described the high number of candidates as being a result of the election becoming known as a forum for self-promotion and publicity stunts.^[10][11]

Campaign[edit]

The main issues in the election include declining birth rates,^[12][13] environmental laws,^[14] redevelopment of the Meiji Jingu Gaien area,^[15] and the use of projection mapping on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.^[16]

Incumbent Koike utilized her experience to garner support, delivering occasional speeches throughout Tokyo.^[17] Renhō focused on street rallies and anti-LDP sentiment, typically making two speeches per day.^[18] Renhō's campaign has been noted for its progressivism, advocating for LGBT inclusive policies, climate action, and intergenerational equity, which appeals to younger voters.^[19][20] Shinji Ishimaru, the 41 year old who previously served as the Mayor of Akitakata, has used social media to increase his name recognition, running a populist campaign by advertising himself as a political outsider.^[21] Like Renhō, he has utilized street campaigning, but instead moves from one speech location to another in 30-minute intervals to appeal for support. His campaign recruited about 5,000 volunteers to spread his activities through social media; he also has capitalized on anti-LDP sentiment.^[22] Tamogami has appealed to conservatives, making speeches in front of the Defense Ministry building and having a strong stance in support of the controversial Yasukuni Shrine.^[22][23]

The four main candidates have taken part in several forums and debates. A joint press conference hosted by ANN was held between Koike, Renhō, Ishimaru, and Tamogami on 19 June.^[24] The four participated in a public debate hosted by Junior Chamber International (JCI) that was held on 24 June.^[25]

Controversies[edit]

Poster jacking[edit]

The NHK Party led by Takashi Tachibana launched a political stunt named "Operation Tokyo Gubernatorial Election Poster Display Jacking." Filing dozens of candidates for the election under their party, Tachibana was able to gain access to approximately 14,000 campaign posters throughout Tokyo. By donating to the party, donors were able to put up a poster of their choice in place of the party's posters. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications stated that there are no restrictions on the content of campaign posters, except for false information, content related to other candidates' campaigns, and content that violates laws. Despite this, experts raised concerns about the legal loopholes, and an online petition opposing the poster jacking gathered more than 20,000 signatures.^[26][27][28]

On June 22, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department warned the party about posters in Shibuya Ward advertising a women-only adult entertainment establishment, potentially violating the Entertainment and Amusement Business Act. Tachibana removed the posters in response.^[29] Additionally, posters in the same Ward featured illustrations of deceased actor Haruma Miura, leading to a protest from his former talent agency, Amuse. The donor responsible for the posters admitted to putting them up without permission, leading to Tachibana apologizing and removing the posters.^[30][31]

The Tokyo Metropolitan Election Commission received over 1,000 complaints from residents regarding the posters between June 20 and June 21. Secretary-General of the LDP Toshimitsu Motegi expressed the need to consider revising the Public Offices Election Act to address the poster jacking. Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi, CDP Secretary-General Katsuya Okada, DPFP leader Yuichiro Tamaki, JCP Secretary-General Akira Koike, as well as Governor of Osaka Hirofumi Yoshimura expressed similar views.^[32][33][34]

Perennial candidates[edit]

The election has gained international attention due to the large amount of joke parties and perennial candidates participating,^[35] which includes 96-year-old inventor Yoshiro Nakamatsu, internet comedian 'AI Mayor', Yusuke Kawai, the self-proclaimed "Joker of Japan" who gained controversy for putting explicit campaign posters with a fully nude image of a gyaru model, which was later removed by the Metropolitan Police Department,^[36] and a candidate from the 'Poker Party' who advocates for economic and political reforms through the card game.^[37][38] Governor of Tottori Shinji Hirai said in a remark to the Tottori prefectural assembly that the influx of joke and perennial candidates in the election showed that “democracy is at risk of collapse.”^[35]

Xenophobic comments[edit]

Sakurai, the Japan First Party candidate, has long been noted for his xenophobia, founding the anti-Zainichi Korean organization Zaitokukai in 2007. During a campaign speech in front of Ikebukuro Station, Sakurai accused a 24-hour Chinese store located near the station of hosting "400 Chinese mafia's," claiming that the Metropolitan Police Department has confirmed the information, however, this was later denied. In the same campaign speech, Sakurai further claimed that public safety in Ikebukuro is "being threatened due to the rise in Chinese immigrants".^[39]

Assassination threats and gaffes[edit]

Koike and Renhō's campaign headquarters received a series of threatening letters with death and bomb threats. Both campaigns have filed damage reports with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and the incident is being investigated on suspicion of intimidation.^[40]

• On June 23, a fax was sent to Renhō's campaign office with the message "I will stab her with a knife and kill her." The fax also contained statements such as "I have obtained sulfuric acid" and "I will plant a bomb and detonate it on June 24th."^[41]
• On June 24, a letter almost identical to the fax sent to the Renhō campaign was sent to the Toshima Ward office of Tomin First no Kai, the local party which endorsed Koike, stating that they had "splashed sulfuric acid" and "planted explosives."^[42]

Additionally, a death threat was delivered to the female model behind Kawai's explicit campaign posters, resulting in Kawai cancelling his planned campaign speeches and political gaffes.^[43]

Results[edit]

Simultaneous by-elections[edit]

By-elections for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly are scheduled to be held simultaneously with the gubernatorial election to fill the vacancies of the following seats:

• Kōtō Ward electoral district: Ikki Yamazaki resigns due to his candidacy for the 2023 Kōtō Ward Mayoral election (automatic loss of seat).
• Shinagawa Ward electoral district: Kyoko Morisawa resigns due to her candidacy for the 2022 Shinagawa Ward Mayoral election (automatic loss of seat).
• Nakano Ward electoral district: Chiharu Araki resigns due to her candidacy for the 2022 House of Councillors election (automatic loss of seat).
• Kita Ward electoral district: Kanako Yamada resigns due to her candidacy for the 2023 Kita Ward Mayoral election (automatic loss of seat).
• Itabashi Ward electoral district: Resignation of Kinoshita Fumiko.
• Adachi Ward electoral district: Naoki Takashima, died in office.
• Hachioji electoral district: Ken Nishiyama, died in office.
• Fuchu electoral district: Kinji Suzuki, died in office.
• Minamitama electoral district: Ryoichi Ishikawa, died in office.

References[edit]

Notes[edit]