Incumbent Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike Certain To Be Reelected

Incumbent Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike is certain to be reelected in the gubernatorial election, with the effective backing of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), thus securing a third four-year term, exit polls showed, Kyodo News reported.

The race is seen as a proxy war between national parties as the conservative incumbent was challenged by the left-leaning opposition politician. I Photo: 国土交通省関東地方整備局 Wikimedia Commons

Koike's major rivals included Renho, a former lawmaker supported by the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and Shinji Ishimaru, the social media-savvy former mayor of a small city in Hiroshima Prefecture.

The election was closely watched as the outcome could affect the future course of national politics, with the LDP, led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, under heavy scrutiny amid a slush funds scandal revealed late last year.

The race is seen as a proxy war between national parties as the conservative incumbent was challenged by the left-leaning opposition politician, while the election was criticized for prioritizing popularity over policies due largely to swing voters.

This year, a record 56 people, including former Air Self-Defense Force chief Toshio Tamogami, 75, threw their hats into the ring. According to political pundits, many candidates entered the race solely to gain fame through campaign broadcasts and posters, Mainichi Japan also reported.