TOKYO: The official campaign period for the July 7 Tokyo gubernatorial election started Thursday, with incumbent Governor KOIKE Yuriko, 71, set to compete with challengers including Renho, 56, who served as administrative reform minister in the administration of the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan.

The focus will be on how to assess Koike’s two terms of eight years in office, with debates expected to center on child-rearing support measures and administrative and fiscal reforms.

Among other candidates are Shinji Ishimaru, 41, former mayor of Akitakata, Hiroshima Prefecture, Toshio Tamogami, 75, former Air Self-Defense Force chief of staff, and Kuniaki Shimizu, 73, a television personality.

The Liberal Democratic Party, a ruling party in national politics, its junior coalition partner Komeito and the opposition Democratic Party for the People back Koike. The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and two other opposition parties–the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party–support Renho.

The election result is likely to have an impact on the administration of Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio and the strategies of each party for the coming election of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament.

During the campaign period, Koike will tout her accomplishments, including the introduction of a scheme under which 5,000 yen is provided every month to Tokyo residents up to the age of 18. She will also pledge to implement new measures, such as providing support for pain-free childbirth and reducing the number of students per class at public junior high schools to 35.

Renho will stress the need to raise individuals’ after-tax income to create an environment in which people can raise children without worry, pledging to expand economic aid for nonregular workers and those who are paying back student loans.

Ishimaru will highlight the importance of rebuilding politics. Tamogami will call for the development of disaster-resistant towns, while Shimizu will advocate the realization of administration that reflect the viewpoints of Tokyo residents.

JIJI Press