Koto Ward mayoral election Candidates and appeals What about early voting?Vote counting December 10th Detailed summary of election history etc.
In Tokyo's Koto Ward, the mayor of the ward, who was first elected in April this year, resigned after being investigated by his associates on suspicion of violating the Public Offices Election Act. The Koto Ward mayoral election was announced on December 3rd due to the resignation of the Ward Mayor, and five new people ran as candidates. The election campaign is expected to be fought over issues such as rebuilding the chaotic ward administration. In addition to the appeals of the candidates, we have summarized in detail the history and background of the election, the location and time of early voting, etc.
Five new candidates are running
The following people, in order of notification, are candidates for the Tokyo/Koto Ward mayoral election. Both are independent newcomers.
▼ Tomoka Okubo (52), former Tokyo Metropolitan Government policy director, recommended by the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito Party, Democratic Party of the People, and regional political party Tokyo Citizens First Association
▼Yasuya Mito (34), former Koto Ward assembly member, recommended by the regional political party Freedom Protection Association
▼Takashi Ino (58), former National Tax Agency employee
▼Hiroyuki Kogure (44), chairman of the medical corporation recommended by the Japan Restoration Society
▼ Natsumi Sakai (37), a former Koto Ward assembly member, is supported by the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Japanese Communist Party, the Reiwa Shinsengumi, the Social Democratic Party, the regional party Tokyo Seikatsusha Network, and the political group Greens Japan.
Mr. Tomoka Okubo (none/new)
Mr. Okubo said, “It is a waste that Koto Ward, which is full of charm and potential, has come to a standstill due to confusion and stagnation in the administration of the ward.I have a career in welfare administration and policy planning at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for approximately 30 years, and I am committed to the politics of this city.'' I have three beliefs.The first is to create a city where all generations, including future generations who are raising children, those of us who are currently working, and our seniors, can live with peace of mind.Secondly, as a political amateur, I have worked at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as a whole. Utilizing my experience, I will realize a ward administration that puts the highest priority on people's lives from the perspective of the ward's residents.And third, above all, clean and fair elections and politics.In order to regain the trust of the ward's residents, not only myself, but the entire ward office must comply with the rules. We will continue to work hard to ensure that.”
Mr. Yasuya Mito (unused/new)
Ms. Mito said, “As a mother, I decided that I could no longer entrust my children's future to someone else, so I became a member of the Koto Ward Assembly in 2019, and single-handedly decided that I could not leave my children's future in the hands of someone else. Under the previous mayor who advocated a clean and open ward administration, he was working on enacting a political ethics ordinance, but at the same time he faced political fraud, betrayal and deception of the ward's residents. Various events such as these have occurred, and there are no faces to meet the residents of the ward.This fight is not just me.Koto ward, as a whole of Japan, will fight together with the ward's residents, who hope for even the slightest improvement.Politics. “Please don't give up. Instead of waiting for the wind to arise, let's create the wind together.”
Mr. Takashi Ino (None/New)
Ino said, “It goes without saying that politics based on self-interest cannot be tolerated, but sincere politics means striving to meet the expectations and hopes of voters entrusted with their votes and to realize the promises made. Now that the number of nuclear families is increasing, we live in an era where the government is firmly supporting child-rearing and nursing care.We are increasing the number of nursery schools and special nursing homes, and increasing the compensation of nursery teachers and caregivers to prevent labor shortages and staff shortages. In addition, as the prices of goods continue to rise, encouraging people to use electronic payment services and coupons that allow them to receive discounts when purchasing food and beverages is an effective way to counter soaring prices. “I think so,” he said.
Mr. Hiroyuki Kogure (unused/new)
Mr. Kogure said, “I'm sure there are some among you who have distrust or dissatisfaction with politics and government.The most important thing for me in a private company is to be told thank you by customers.'' To have people like our work and to have them come back for repeat purchases.We will be reborn in a politics and administration that listens carefully to the voices of the residents, receives evaluations from the residents, and earns their gratitude for the sake of their lives, welfare, and social order. It is necessary.If we, the private sector, do not stand up, politics and administration that are convenient for politicians, bureaucrats, and civil servants will continue.Managers and entrepreneurs are creating this from nothing. I want to achieve this through the politics of Koto Ward.''
Mr. Natsumi Sakai (unused/new)
Mr. Sakai said, “Right now, all the fuss in Koto Ward is about issues of interest and money, and I am also angry that only politics has become corrupt.Now is the time to create a ward administration that is close to the residents of the ward. I decided to run as a candidate.I worked as a nurse and midwife at a hospital in the ward until I was first elected to the ward assembly, and I know the reality of the child-rearing generation.Also, I am raising a 6-year-old girl myself. Because I am a mother, I am committed to creating an advanced child-raising district that prioritizes child-rearing.With the pillar of our policy being “I will not leave you alone in your efforts'', I will support people with disabilities, women facing difficulties, and non-regular workers. “I want to reflect the diverse voices of working people in the ward's administration while interacting and collaborating with the ward's residents.”
Early voting locations and times
According to the Koto Ward Election Commission, early voting stations will be set up at nine locations in the ward for people who are unable to vote on voting day for this election due to work or illness.
| Koto Ward Mayor's Election Early Voting Station 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. | |
|---|---|
| facility | location |
| Koto Ward Office Main Building 2nd Floor Civic Hall | 4-11-28 Toyo |
| Morishita Cultural Center 2nd floor Artisan Hall | 3-12-17 Morishita |
| Tomioka Civic Center 3rd floor hall | 1-16-12 Tomioka |
| Toyosu Civic Center 1st floor gallery | Toyosu 2-2-18 |
| Komatsubashi Civic Center 4th floor Western-style rooms 1 and 2 | Ogibashi 2-1-5 |
| Camellia Plaza 1st floor | Kameido 2-19-1 |
| General Civic Center 2nd floor exhibition hall | 4-5-1 Oshima |
| Sunamachi Civic Center 3rd floor Town Hall | Kitasuna 4-7-3 |
| Minamisuna Ward Community Center 4th floor hall | Minamisuna 6-8-3 |
Early voting is available for six days from Monday, December 4th to Saturday, December 9th, from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
As crowds are expected on the final day, the election board is urging people to vote well in advance of the final day.
Past voting rates are
Since 2003, voter turnout in the Koto Ward Mayor's election has remained below 50%, hovering in the late 40s.
The Koto Ward mayoral election has been held 16 times since 1949 until the last election in April this year. Of these, the highest voter turnout was in the 1951 election, at 80.12%.
On the other hand, the lowest rate was 45.75% in 2011. In the previous election held in April this year, which was held following the death of the former ward mayor, the percentage was 48.86%.
Background of the Koto Ward mayoral election
This Koto Ward mayoral election is due to the resignation of former Ward Mayor Yayoi Kimura. Former ward mayor Kimura was elected for the first time in April's ward mayor election this year, campaigning for a “clean and open ward administration'' in a fierce campaign against the eldest son of a former ward mayor who had served four terms and 16 years.
However, during the election period, it was revealed that the campaign had placed paid advertisements on YouTube that included images of the actress and the words “Please vote for Yayoi Kimura.''
The Public Offices Election Law prohibits campaigning by displaying candidate names in paid advertisements on the Internet during the election period, and the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's Special Investigation Department in October this year arrested the public office on suspicion of violating the Public Offices Election Law. The mayor's office at the ward office was searched, and the suspect himself was voluntarily interviewed.
On October 26, two days after the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office raid, Mr. Kimura said, “As the investigation including interviews continues, there will be no further disruption or stagnation of important ward administration, such as the formulation of the new fiscal year's budget.'' “I believe that this should not be the case,'' he said, and submitted his resignation.
As a result, another election will be held less than a year after the last election for ward mayor.
Regarding the Koto Ward mayoral election in April this year, Liberal Democratic Party member Miyo Kakizawa, who had supported Mr. Kimura, resigned as Deputy Minister of Justice at the end of October, saying he wanted to take responsibility for encouraging the use of paid advertising. In September, his local office in Koto Ward and his secretary's home were searched by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's special investigation department on suspicion of bribery by himself in violation of the Public Offices Election Act.
In a letter addressed to the supporters' association, Rep. Kakizawa expressed his opinion denying any recognition of the illegality of the video production and any intention of bribery.
Background to the previous election: A structure that continues from my father’s generation
In Koto Ward, former Ward Mayor Takaaki Yamazaki, who served four terms for 16 years before passing away in April, former Ward Mayor Kimura's father, former House of Representatives member Tsutomu Kimura, and former House of Representatives member Tsutomu Kimura, and Mito Kakizawa's father, Former Foreign Minister Koji Kakizawa has been engaged in a power struggle.
According to people involved, Mr. Kakizawa supported Mr. Kimura in a conflict of fate that has continued since his father's generation, and his secretary was in charge of running the election office.
According to people involved, Mr. Kakizawa, who has belonged to various political parties, had wanted to join the Liberal Democratic Party, but the relationship between the two had ended due to opposition from the influential former ward mayor Yamazaki. It is said that there was a lump, and Mr. Kakizawa and Mr. Kimura teamed up to oppose Mr. Yamazaki.
Some people refer to the complex political situation in Koto Ward as the “Magic Triangle” or “Romance of the Three Kingdoms.”
The election campaign takes place under these circumstances. Each candidate is calling for clean politics and restoring trust in the ward administration.
The challenges faced by Koto Ward, where the population continues to increase, are
Koto Ward is located in the eastern part of Tokyo's 23 wards, and has a population of over 539,000 as of November 1st. It consists of areas with old-fashioned shopping streets and small and medium-sized factories, and the Toyosu district, which is lined with tower apartments and has a growing number of young people.
While the birthrate is declining and the population is aging nationwide, Koto Ward's population is increasing, increasing by more than 160,000 since 2000. Under these circumstances, issues include improving policies to accommodate population growth, improving childcare and educational environments, and urban development that improves the convenience of transportation in coastal areas.
Voting day for the Koto Ward mayoral election is December 10th, and votes will be counted on the same day.
