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Yomiuri Shimbun
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Poll Shows Japan's LDP Most Popular in Upcoming Tokyo Assembly Election; High Prices, Wage Growth Remain Key Issues
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo The Tokyo metropolitan assembly The Liberal Democratic Party is the most popular party in the upcoming Tokyo metropolitan assembly election, according to a Yomiuri Shimbun poll, with 20% of respondents saying that they would vote for the party. The survey was conducted by phone and online to analyze the situation regarding the June 22 assembly election. Local political party Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites first group), for which Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike serves as a special adviser, came second in the poll, with 10% expressing support for the party. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People each received 7%, while the Japanese Communist party and Komeito were each supported by 4%. Thirty-one percent of respondents gave no response. Compared to the previous poll conducted between May 16-18, support for the LDP, the largest party in the assembly, increased to 2 points, maintaining its lead. Support for Tomin First no Kai rose 3 points, while DPFP's ranking dropped, down 3 points. Support for Gov. Koike increased 3 points to 58%. When respondents were asked about issues they found important, with multiple answers allowed, the top response was 'measures to address high prices and promote wage increases' at 78% (the same as in the previous survey), followed by 'healthcare and welfare policies' at 51% (53% in the previous survey), 'crime prevention and security measures' at 47% (50% in the previous survey), and 'politics and money' at 43% (46% in the previous survey). Regarding the issue of politics and money, the LDP did not give official endorsements to six former secretary generals of the assembly's LDP faction who were involved in the political funds scandal in which the LDP faction failed to report income from fundraising parties. When asked whether information on social media about political parties and candidates was important in deciding who to vote for, 8% said 'very much' and 35% said 'somewhat,' a total of 43%. By age group, 58% of those aged 18-29 and 62% of those in their 30s said it was important, while more than half of those in their 40s and older said it was not important. The survey was conducted on eligible voters in Tokyo between Friday and Sunday, and there were 1,463 respondents.
Yomiuri Shimbun
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Tokyo Assembly Race Kicks Off: Voters Must Carefully Ascertain Information before Casting Ballots
With the nation's capital facing many issues, such as high prices, a declining birth rate, an aging population and disaster preparedness measures, how should the future of Tokyo be shaped? This election will not only test the candidates' views, but also the judgment of every voter. Campaigning for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election has officially kicked off. A record 295 people filed their candidacies for the 127 seats. Candidates will campaign for nine days until June 22, when voting and vote counting is held. Many Tokyo residents cite 'rising prices and wage increases' as points of contention in the election. In Tokyo, housing prices and rent are rising, placing a heavy burden on younger generations in particular. Many people are likely seeking an environment in which they can live without worries. According to national statistics released this month, Tokyo's total fertility rate — the average number of children born to each woman over her lifetime — stood at 0.96 last year, the lowest in the country. Increasing the number of children who will shape the future of the nation is a critical challenge. Preparing for disasters such as a major earthquake directly under the capital or heavy rainfall is also essential. It is important to carefully examine the policies presented by each candidate and determine who is most suitable. The Tokyo election is seen as a bellwether for the House of Councillors election this summer. The focus of the election will be on whether the Liberal Democratic Party, which currently holds 30 seats, can maintain its position as the largest party in the assembly. Whether the LDP, the Tokyo-based regional party Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites first group) and Komeito — the three parties that support the Tokyo governor — will be able to maintain their joint majority will also be closely watched. The approval rating for the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba remains low, hovering just above 30%. A scandal regarding LDP factions' involvement in failing to report revenue from political fundraising parties on political funds reports has spread to the LDP assembly group in the Tokyo assembly. The results of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election are likely to affect the prime minister's ability to maintain party unity. In recent elections, false and unverified information circulated on social media, creating a situation in which elections could be influenced. The practice of candidates running solely to help another candidate win, known as 'two-horsepower' campaigning, has also become an issue. In last year's Tokyo gubernatorial election, posters unrelated to the candidates, such as advertisements for adult entertainment establishments, were posted on election poster boards, leading to a revision of the Public Offices Election Law to prohibit election posters that undermine dignity. This will be the first major election since the revised law came into effect. Acts that degrade elections, which are the foundation of democracy, cannot be tolerated. All candidates should keep this matter in mind. The Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association issued a statement ahead of the Tokyo assembly election, expressing concern that inaccurate information could influence the election. Four member companies of the association, including The Yomiuri Shimbun, have formed a voluntary group to start fact-checking information found online, starting with the Tokyo assembly election. Urban areas have a large number of voters who have no party preference, and the 'wind' that determines election outcome can sometimes blow. In an era of information overload, voters must ascertain information to cast their ballots. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 14, 2025)
Yomiuri Shimbun
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
292 Candidates Vying for 127 Tokyo Assembly Seats; Many Eyes on Whether LDP Can Remain Biggest Group
The Yomiuri Shimbun Voters listen as a candidate gives a street speech in Chofu, Tokyo, on Friday. Official campaigning kicked off Friday for the June 22 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, with much attention being paid to whether the Liberal Democratic Party can remain the assembly's largest force. As of 1:20 p.m. on the day, 292 candidates had filed their candidacies for the 127 seats being contested, the most people running since the number of seats was set at 127 in 1997. Much attention is being paid to whether the LDP will be able to maintain its position as the largest party in the assembly, as it is facing a headwind over issues of politics and money. The results will likely influence the upcoming House of Councillors election due to take place in July. Whether the LDP, the Tokyo-based regional party Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites first group) and Komeito, all of which support Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, will be able to maintain their joint majority is drawing attention. Another focus in the election will be whether the Democratic Party for the People and the Path to Rebirth, a regional political party led by Shinji Ishimaru, a former mayor of Akitakata, Hiroshima Prefecture, will each gain their first seat. Key issues in the race include economic concerns such as high prices and wage hikes, as well as the evaluation of Koike's running of her administration. Political reform will also be a focal point after some LDP members in a party group in the assembly were found to have failed to record required information in their political funds reports. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is also president of the LDP, forwent giving a street speech on the first day of official campaigning. Shinji Inoue, chairperson of the Tokyo federation of LDP branches, spoke to the public in Shibuya Ward on behalf of the party leader, saying: 'We deeply regret and will fulfill our duty to explain the [political funds] matter. The future of Tokyo will be challenging. We must do our utmost to curb rising prices.' In front of Ikebukuro Station, Koike gave a speech for a candidate endorsed by her party. 'Policy is a lifeline, and Tomin First's stance is to build the pillar of that policy,' the governor said, citing achievements in child-rearing support, such as effectively free high school tuition. Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, was outside JR Nakano Station. 'We will not tolerate wasting taxpayers' money. I want [our party's candidates] to act as watchdogs for taxpayers and bark in the Tokyo assembly,' he said. 'We will work with politics at the national level to propose concrete policies focused on the lives of Tokyo residents and see them implemented.' Candidate registration began at 8:30 a.m. at the Election Administration Commission in all 42 electoral districts. The numbers of officially endorsed candidates from major political parties are as follows: LDP 42; Tomin First no Kai 37; Komeito 22; Japanese Communist Party 24; CDPJ 20; Japan Innovation Party 6; Seikatsusha Network 3; DPFP 18; Reiwa Shinsengumi 3; Sanseito 4; Conservative Party of Japan 1; Social Democratic Party 1; and Path to Rebirth 42. Minor-party or unaffiliated candidates totaled 69. The numbers of seats held before the start of the official election campaign period were as follows: LDP 30; Tomin First 26; Komeito 23; JCP 19; CDPJ 12; JIP 1; Seikatsusha Network 1, and unaffiliated 11. There were four vacancies. The LDP has decided not to endorse six members who have served as secretary general of the party's political organization in the Tokyo assembly for having failed to include required information in their political funds reports. In response to the political funds scandal, Komeito has decided to forgo endorsing LDP candidates as it did in the previous race. Tomin First coordinated its candidates with the DPFP in some electoral districts. The JCP and the CDPJ, which oppose Koike's administration, also coordinated their candidates for the election. According to the commission, there were 11,551,505 eligible voters in Tokyo as of Thursday.
Yomiuri Shimbun
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan's Smaller Parties Seek Toehold in Tokyo Assembly as Campaigning Kicks Off
The Yomiuri Shimbun From left: Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People; Mari Kushibuchi, co-leader of Reiwa Shinsengumi; Shinji Ishimaru, head of the Path to Rebirth With campaigning having started for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, some parties with no seats in the assembly took to aggressively fielding their candidates. They aim to win their first seats and build momentum for the House of Councillors election that will soon follow. One such party is the Democratic Party for the People, which had a breakthrough in last year's House of Representatives election, where it quadrupled its number of seats. The party has put up 18 candidates for the Tokyo election, hoping to make up for the last race in 2021, when all four of its candidates lost. In some cases, it has coordinated on which districts to run its candidates with the Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites first group), a regional party for which Gov. Yuriko Koike serves as a special advisor. Calling for 'increased take-home pay of the people of Tokyo,' the party will focus on such policies as supporting households raising children. 'This is a fight to win our first seat in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. I want to come at this as a challenger,' said party leader Yuichiro Tamaki in his first speech for the campaign. 'We will make sure that what we have worked so hard to earn will, as much as possible, stay in our pockets.' Meanwhile, Reiwa Shinsengumi put up a total of three candidates in Setagaya, Nerima and Suginami wards, each of which has six to eight seats, as the party looks to ensure that the candidates it does run make it into the assembly. In its campaign pledges, Reiwa stresses the need for an 'aggressive fiscal policy' in Tokyo, as it does for national politics. The party aims to improve the lives of Tokyo residents by expanding rent subsidies and reviewing large-scale redevelopment projects. 'We'll strive to repair and improve infrastructure such as for the water supply, so that we may build a foundation for Tokyo residents to live with peace of mind,' said Mari Kushibuchi, the party's co-leader. 'We must make metropolitan politics more transparent,' she added, referring to how Liberal Democratic Party members in the assembly failed to report income from political fundraising parties. 'Let's show how intelligent voters are, and kick out the scandal-plagued assembly members in this Tokyo assembly election.' Another political party, the Path to Rebirth, which was set up in January by Shinji Ishimaru, a former mayor of Akitakata, Hiroshima Prefecture, aims to 'clean out the career politicians.' The regional party is fielding 42 candidates. In Tokyo's gubernatorial election last summer, Ishimaru was not backed by any political party, but he used social media to gain support from independents and finished in second place. He remains popular, with his party's call for candidates for the Tokyo assembly election drawing 1,128 applicants. He also drew attention when he broadcast the selection process for candidates live on YouTube. The party is taking an unusual approach to this election. Its platform simply states that elected members will serve only two terms, or eight years in total. There are no party policies. 'Our party is neither a ruling nor an opposition party. Neither right nor left. Let us each take the right path. That's our concept,' Ishimaru said in his first speech for the campaign.
Tokyo Weekender
28-05-2025
- Tokyo Weekender
What To Do in Kawagoe: A Charming, Historic 'Little Edo' Near Tokyo
Kawagoe has earned the nickname 'Little Edo' for a reason — it's brimming with impeccably preserved historic buildings, traditional food offerings and unique cultural experiences. Located in Saitama Prefecture, the city is a less than an hour's train journey away from Seibu-Shinjuku Station via the Red Arrow Limited Express. Kawagoe is a hugely popular day trip location for Tokyoites, and it's easy to see why. Keep reading for a perfect day-long itinerary — including a matcha tea ceremony experience in a picturesque Japanese garden and a stroll through the breathtaking remains of the original Edo Castle. Hikawa Shrine: Praying for Love and Family One of Kawagoe's most visited sites, Hikawa Shrine is often visited by couples and families to pray for marital harmony and family unity. It boasts 1500 years of history and served as a place of prayer for generations of feudal lords. You can participate in a number of unique and historic activities here. Be sure to pay a visit to the two towering zelkova trees on the shrine grounds, treasured for their connection to divinity. It is said that walking around the stone path around the trees in a figure-eight formation will enrich your spirit. Another must-try activity: walking through the long tunnel of ema (wooden prayer plates) and fishing out a special sea bream-shaped omikuji (paper fortune), which will predict your romantic fortune. Jikeido Hall Kita-in Temple: Witness Edo Castle Splendor Founded in 830 CE, Kita-in Temple is an important center for Tendai Buddhism; it's also home to several National Important Cultural Properties. Notably, it's the location of the only remaining structures from the original Edo Castle — after a fire destroyed much of the temple grounds in 1638, the third Tokugawa shogun, Iemitsu, ordered several palace buildings to be moved there to help with rebuilding. San-mon Gate Kitain Pagoda 'The temple's main gate, Sanmon, is referred to as 'miracle gate,' for its survival of the fire that burnt down much of Kawagoe in 1638,' our guide, Haruo Azami, explained to TW. Like the unassuming gate, many of Kita-in's structures possess a quiet strength difficult to capture in words. Its pagoda, for instance, is a two-tiered tahoto structure — a style that originates from Japan, unlike three or five-tiered builds inspired by Chinese pagodas. 'The Kita-in pagoda is particularly admired for its beauty and balance,' Azami said. Shogun Iemitsu's Birthplace Visitors can also look forward to seeing the (rumored) birthplace and living quarters of Shogun Iemitsu Tokugawa, part of the last remains of the original Edo Castle. Surrounding the historic rooms and priceless artifacts is Momijiyama Garden, an impeccably maintained oasis of towering willow trees and Japanese maple. 500 Statues of Rakan Also within the Kita-in Temple grounds are the 500 Statues of Rakan: carefully sculpted stone representations of Buddha's most enlightened disciples. Completed between the years 1782 and 1825, the statues feature a variety of facial expressions and poses and are said to relieve the suffering of their onlookers. Kawagoe Castle Ruins: Living Capsule of History A 10-minute walk away from Kita-in is Kawagoe Castle's Honmaru Palace, a surviving structure from the castle's later history. While Kawagoe Castle was originally built in 1457, the current Honmaru Palace was constructed in 1848 during the late Edo period and is one of the few remaining examples of Edo-period castle palace architecture. Although the existing palace dates to the 19th century, the site itself is steeped in history. Kawagoe Castle served as a key defensive stronghold for Edo and witnessed numerous significant events, including the great Kawagoe Night Battle of 1546. Architecturally, the palace is notable for its graceful samurai-style karahafu curved roof and the gleaming Tokugawa family crest that adorns it — a must-visit for history buffs. Miyoshino Shrine Right next to Honmaru Palace, Miyoshino Shrine was revered as an important religious site of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It was built some 1200 years ago, around the same time as Kita-in Temple, and enshrines four deities, including Sugawara no Michizane, the Shinto god of learning. Interestingly, the narrow path leading from the South Otemon Gate of Kawagoe Castle to the shrine inspired a famous Japanese nursery rhyme called 'Toryanse,' a fact which is commemorated with a monument on the shrine grounds. Kawagoe Warehouse District (Kurazukuri Street): Journey Back in Time Kurazukuri Street, a shopping hub that forms the bustling heart of Kawagoe City, is a must-visit during your trip. It is home to Toki no Kane (Time Bell Tower), perhaps the most frequently referenced and photographed landmark of the city. Kawagoe was an instrumental town of trade and commerce, and its warehouses remain today as eateries, cafes and miscellaneous souvenir stores. Here are a few of our favorites. Unagi Denbe: Luxurious Freshwater Eel Housed in a spacious, atmospheric Meiji era warehouse once home to an apothecary , Unagi Denbe offers incredible unajyu meals. Unajyu consists of grilled unagi — freshwater eel — laid carefully atop a bed of rice in a lacquered box. We tried the shop's bando taro premium eel, cooked kabayaki-style (with a soy-based sauce), which was sumptuous and flavor-rich beyond our expectations. For wagyu lovers, the restaurant also offers half-wagyu, half-unagi meals. Karaki Mokkou: Carve Your Own Chopsticks For a fun activity and a unique souvenir, head to Karaki Mokkou to craft your own chopsticks, choosing your favorite kind of wood and then carefully molding the chopsticks' shape. The experience is great for people of all ages. Smaller chopsticks are also available as an option for children. The workshop is run by Holiday, a bespoke furniture business in Yamada, Kawagoe city, and knowledgeable staff are available to guide you through the process. Each table features a phone stand above it, enabling visitors to film a cool time-lapse video of the entire process as an extra keepsake. Kashiya Yokocho: A Nostalgic Candy Alley Kashiya Yokocho, or Candy Alley, is just what it sounds like: a charming shopping street lined with about 30 confectionery shops. Kawagoe has many sweet treats to offer, both within Candy Alley and beyond . During our visit, we tried a number of snacks that were equally delicious and beautiful to look at: crème brûléed sweet potato (sweet potatoes are a specialty of Saitama, especially Kawagoe), giant mitarashi dango and candied strawberries with a sculptural net of spun sugar around them. Tranquil Matcha Tea Ceremony at Tantoku Garden While many places in Japan offer traditional tea ceremony experiences, Tantoku Garden stands out for its rich history, enchanting Japanese garden and kind guidance. The site was established in 1901, during the Meiji period, and has maintained its charm to this day. The garden's ethereal beauty attracts many visitors and wedding celebrations year-round, but we highly recommend booking the Matcha & Wasanbon Experience , crafted especially for tea enthusiasts; you can learn how to properly whisk and enjoy matcha from an experienced instructor and craft wasanbon (Japanese sugar sweets with over 200 years of history). How To Get to Kawagoe To get to Kawagoe from central Tokyo, take the Red Arrow Limited Express from Seibu-Shinjuku Station. To ride the Limited Express, a separate limited express ticket is required in addition to your regular fare ticket, which can be purchased on the day of travel at Limited Express ticket counters or online via Smooz in English. The Seibu Kawagoe Pass ensures a smooth and comfortable round trip from central Tokyo to Kawagoe and back, and only costs ¥700 (4.85 USD). You can purchase it in person a t the Limited Express ticket counter at Seibu-Shinjuku Station . Alternatively, purchasing a digital pass via Klook is highly recommended, as it allows you to board the train directly just by presenting a QR code on your mobile device. The blue ticket is the SEIBU KAWAGOE PASS with CO-EDO LOOP BUS 1-Day Ticket — it includes unlimited rides on local loop buses in the Kawagoe area.
