Photo: Yuriko Koike (second from left) and Renho (third from left) and 56 others participated in the Tokyo governor election. \Associated Press

[Ta Kung Pao News]According to Kyodo News and Agence France-Presse reports: The campaign for the Tokyo Governor election officially began on the 20th, with a total of 56 candidates confirmed, a record high. The most watched candidates are the current governor Yuriko Koike and former senator Renho. Although both of them are running as independents, Yuriko Koike has the support of the ruling party, while Renho has the support of the largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, and other opposition parties. This election is not only a showdown between two female politicians, but also seen as a battle between the ruling and opposition parties.

The Tokyo gubernatorial election will be held on July 7. The registration of candidates closed on June 20, and the campaign officially began on the same day. Yuriko Koike, who has been in power for two consecutive terms, Renho, Shinji Ishimaru, the former mayor of Akitakata City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and Toshio Tamogami, the former chief of staff of the Air Force General Staff, have confirmed their candidacy, breaking the record of 22 candidates in 2020. According to Kyodo News, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, the regional party “Tokyo Citizens First Association” and the Tokyo Branch Federation of the Democratic Party for the People have expressed their support for Koike, while the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party support Renho.

Japan is facing a declining birthrate crisis, and both Koike and Renho have pledged to expand support for childcare. Koike advocates reducing the burden of childcare and education, while Renho proposes increasing young people’s income.

Koike also promised to continue to promote the “Tokyo Grand Reform”. Some analysts pointed out that the support rate of the Liberal Democratic Party has continued to decline due to the political donation scandal recently, and it also lost the House of Representatives by-election in April. The support of the party may not add points to Koike’s reform image. In addition, the controversy of Koike’s “fake academic qualifications” has once again attracted media attention. Koike emphasized that she had previously published her graduation certificate.