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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.
Japan Forward
5 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Forward
Tokyo Assembly Candidates, Talk to Young Voters About Definite Plans
このページを 日本語 で読む The next election for seats in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly was announced on June 13. Voting will be held 10 days later on June 22. While this election is widely viewed as a warm-up for the nationwide summer House of Councillors (Upper House) election, Tokyo, the nation's capital, faces a wide range of challenges of its own. Disaster prevention and measures to combat declining births are high priorities. Policies made in Tokyo have an impact on local governments around the country. Therefore, we would like to see a sincere and informed policy debate. Approximately 300 candidates are expected to run for the 127 seats up for grabs in the metropolitan assembly election. Every party has pledged to combat the recent rise in prices by promoting wage increases, advocating support for household finances, and subsidizing rent. However, all of them need to clearly explain the effectiveness and feasibility of the policies they advocate. They must especially let voters know how they will secure the financial resources to carry out their proposals. Mid- to long-term policies addressing these problems cannot simply be left until later. To start, there needs to be a thorough discussion about disaster prevention measures, which are directly related to the lives of Tokyo residents. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's own projections, if a major earthquake were to occur directly beneath the capital, approximately 100,000 people would be killed or injured. Another roughly three million people would be forced to evacuate. Additionally, there is concern that Mount Fuji could erupt at any time. In such an event, large amounts of volcanic ash could paralyze city functions. How should we deal with such situations? Furthermore, there is a need to expedite the construction of underground or air raid shelters in preparation for emergencies. Voters listen to the speeches of candidates in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election on June 13 in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward. (©Sankei by Hideyuki Matsui) Maintaining public order in the capital also requires stronger measures against illegal residence and employment of foreigners. Accordingly, measures regarding foreigners are expected to be included in the central government's basic policy. Hopefully, there will be coordination at all levels of government while addressing these problems. Policies to deal with declining births also need to be thoroughly addressed and aired with the public. According to the 2024 Vital Statistics, Tokyo's "total fertility rate" fell below 1.0 for the second consecutive year. That made it the lowest among all of Japan's prefectures. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike is tackling this problem. Nevertheless, it is also the role of the metropolitan assembly to ascertain whether the support measures for child-rearing she is promoting are appropriate. Another topic requiring attention is how election campaigns are conducted. There were several notable problems during the Tokyo gubernatorial election in July 2024. For example, there were numerous instances where election notice board squares for candidate flyers were plastered instead with images of animals and nearly naked people. A noticeboar d in Setagaya Ward displays election flyers and details of the revised Public Election Law, on June 13. (©Sankei by Hideyuki Matsui) While not in Tokyo, there were also problems during the Hyogo Prefecture gubernatorial election in November 2024. Those included rampant slanderous attacks on and false information about candidates on social media. Fair, orderly elections are a pillar of democracy. Anything that undermines that ideal cannot be tolerated. Increasing voter turnout is another challenge, especially among younger voters. Consider turnout in the past three metropolitan assembly elections. Overall turnout was 43.50% in 2013, 51.28% in 2017, and 42.39% in 2021. But among voters in their twenties, the turnout was less than 30% in all cases. Tokyo has a population of approximately 14.2 million, and its total budget for fiscal year 2025 is ¥17.8 trillion JPY ($123.5 billion USD). Everyone must bear in mind that whether or not residents can live safely in Japan's capital in the end depends on the choices made by voters. Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
The Mainichi
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Editorial: Tokyo assembly race candidates should debate measures to ease livelihood worries
Campaigning for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election officially started on June 13, with roughly 300 candidates -- the largest since the Heisei era (1989-2019) -- expected to run in the race vying for the 127 seats in the council. Political parties will face voters' judgment on June 22, election day, over how they are responding to the voices of people experiencing anxieties about their cost of living. Voters are keenly interested in measures to combat high prices. The consumer price index for Tokyo's 23 wards in May rose 3.6% from last year, reaching the highest since January 2023. This is due to the soaring prices of rice and utility bills. Overheated real estate investments and rising material prices in recent years are pushing up housing prices and rents, putting pressure on people's lives. The declining birth rate must also be quickly addressed. The total fertility rate -- the average number of children a woman is estimated to bear in her lifetime -- in the capital stood at 0.96 in 2024, the lowest in the country. In their campaign pledges, many parties advocate for the promotion of wage hikes, support for housing costs and enhancing childrearing measures. It is necessary to hold thorough discussions on how to assist those in need. How the parties are going to deal with the issue of "money in politics" is also being called into question. In the wake of the revelation of a slush funds scandal involving the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) faction's fundraising parties, the issue has been deliberated at a metropolitan assembly committee since February. However, the question of how and why the pooling of those secret funds commenced remains unanswered. The LDP is heading into the race amid such a headwind, desperate to remain as the largest faction in the assembly. Meanwhile, Komeito, the LDP's junior coalition partner in national politics, has avoided rallying behind LDP candidates in the assembly contest. Tomin First no Kai, a regional party for which Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike serves as a special adviser, is aiming to regain control of the council. The Japanese Communist Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan have arranged their candidates in a bid to boost their seats in the assembly. The Democratic Party for the People, which made a strong showing in last year's House of Representatives election, is seeking to win its first seat in the capital council. It has come under the spotlight whether The Path to Rebirth, a regional party launched by Shinji Ishimaru, will win a seat. Ishimaru emerged as the runner-up to Koike in last summer's Tokyo gubernatorial race. The rapidly widespread use of social media has been impacting the landscape of elections throughout Japan. Each campaign team is called on to come up with a strategy with an eye on both positive and negative aspects of social media. In the Tokyo gubernatorial poll, numerous ads unrelated to candidates were put up on the bulletin boards for campaign posters. The metropolitan assembly race is the first large-scale election where the revised Public Offices Election Act with tougher regulations is being applied. With the capital being home to a 11 million-plus electorate, the outcome of the Tokyo assembly contests often become precursors to national election results. Each party is putting their effort into the current race by taking it as a preliminary to the House of Councillors election slated immediately afterward. There is also a plethora of challenges common across the country, such as the aging society and disaster prevention. We expect the candidates to engage in debates that confront these issues head on.
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.
Japan Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Parties to test political waters in Tokyo election ahead of Upper House vote
Campaigning for the June 22 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election — an early indicator of how voters nationwide might cast their ballots, especially for the major national parties, in next month's Upper House poll — kicked off Friday. Candidates for the 127 seat chamber include those from the main national ruling and opposition parties, as well as local parties, including Tomin First no Kai (Tokyoites First), whose special adviser is Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike. Key questions that have emerged in the race include how well the Liberal Democratic Party, currently with 30 seats, can retain its position as the largest party in the assembly. It will put up 42 candidates. Six former and current assembly members involved in the LDP's political funds scandals are running without formal party support. Large gains or losses in the election could prompt changes to the LDP's Upper House campaign strategy and further strengthen or weaken Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's standing as party leader, which is already weak. The July 2021 Tokyo assembly election saw the LDP and its ruling coalition partner, Komeito, failing to win a majority. Then-Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced two months later he would not seek reelection as LDP president and was replaced later in September by Fumio Kishida. Tomin First — the second-largest party in the Tokyo assembly, with 26 seats — is fielding 37 candidates. Komeito, which has 23 assembly seats, is fielding only 22 candidates this time. Though Koike serves as an adviser to Tomin First, she and Komeito's Tokyo chapter have a good relationship. How independent voters respond to the governor's support of Komeito and Tomin First candidates in Tokyo's multiseat districts is another key question that could impact Komeito's chances in the subsequent Upper House race, where the LDP and Komeito still hold a majority. The Tokyo race will also be a test of the opposition Democratic Party for the People's strength in the wake of a political stumble. It withdrew its endorsement of former Lower House lawmaker Shiori Yamao Wednesday, just one day after she announced she was running as a DPP national proportional candidate. The DPP and its leader, Yuichiro Tamaki, faced a public and social media backlash, along with dissent within the party, over the initial decision to back Yamao, who had been involved in a series of political scandals as well as an extramarital affair. Currently without any presence in the assembly, the DPP is putting up 18 candidates. The party did well in last October's Lower House election, especially in urban centers such as Tokyo, where it won over many younger, independent voters who were attracted to its economic policies. Kentaro Yamamoto, a political scientist at Tokyo's Kokugakuin University, says that while the DPP's withdrawal of its endorsement of Yamao was a blow, it might not hurt the party too badly — not because of its strategy, but because of Tomin First's cautious approach in this election. 'Tomin First has narrowed down its candidates to just one in many districts and appears to be avoiding direct competition with DPP candidates. It seems that Tomin First's tactics for fielding candidates are conservative, and that they have already calculated that reform-minded voters who previously supported Tomin First will switch to the DPP this time,' he says. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan — which is the largest national opposition party but is only fifth-largest in the Tokyo assembly, with just 12 seats — is backing 20 candidates. Opposition forces are also seeking to form alliances in some constituencies. The Japanese Communist Party and the CDP have coordinated their efforts to avoid fielding competing candidates in districts with one to three seats, for example. The JCP currently holds 19 seats and is fielding 24 candidates, while Reiwa Shinsengumi is fielding three. There is also the party of former Akitakata Mayor Shinji Ishimaru, which he named The Path to Rebirth. Ishimaru shocked the established parties in last year's Tokyo gubernatorial contest, finishing second behind incumbent Koike and winning nearly 1.7 million votes in a field of 54 candidates. But he has lost much popularity since then, and his party is considered likely to pick up few, if any, seats.
