Candidate posters for the July 10, 2022 House of Councillors election are displayed on the streets of Tokyo. File photo. Reuters
As preparations get underway for the Tokyo gubernatorial election on July 7th, the city streets are reportedly filled with election posters not only of leading candidates, but also of lesser known controversial candidates who are garnering public attention.
Incumbent Koike Yuriko and opposition candidate Saito Renho are fielding a record 56 candidates and focusing their campaigns on key issues such as Japan’s declining birth rate, public spending priorities and urban development challenges. Despite leading in the polls, Renho faces a tough battle against Koike.
Among the remaining 54 candidates, notable figures include a polygamy advocate dressed as the Joker, a former wrestler known as the “AI Mayor” for his robot-themed campaign, and the leader of the “Poker Party,” which advocates political reform through the symbolism of the card game.
Although unconventional, these candidates bring diverse dynamics to Tokyo’s electoral landscape.
The phenomenon of candidates like this is not uncommon in Japan; Yoshiro Nakamatsu, a 96-year-old serial inventor who claims to have invented the floppy disk, has run for governor eight times.
Count Binface and Elmo are also classics in the UK.
But analysts believe the election has become a diffusion game. Tottori Prefecture Governor Shinji Hirai even went so far as to say at a local assembly meeting on June 24 that the chaos seen in the Tokyo elections shows that “democracy is in danger of collapsing.”
“Some of the candidates appear to prioritize attention over respecting democratic norms,” said Donna Weeks, a political science professor at Musashino University, who estimates that only a handful of the 56 candidates are serious about policy and governance.
Japan’s election law prohibits paid advertising and limits campaigning to ensure fairness, but candidates receive equal airtime on the public broadcaster NHK, and candidates like Airi Uchino, who has attracted attention for her unique campaign tactics, are using the platform creatively.
In election campaigns, the NHK Party has adopted unconventional strategies, running commercials with humorous and attention-grabbing content rather than strictly political messages, drawing criticism for straying from election norms.
Considering the wider impact, Tetsuro Kobayashi, a political communications expert at Waseda University, warned that the show risks undermining serious political debate and reducing voter interest.
As Tokyo prepares to vote, the election results will not only shape the city’s future, but also serve as a barometer of the evolution of electoral norms in an age of digital media and viral campaigns.
Find us on YouTube
subscribe
