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Tokyo Rejects Candidate Who Stressed Nuclear Halt Tokyo Rejects Candidate Who Stressed Nuclear Halt
(7 months later)
TOKYO — Tokyo voters chose the governing party candidate to be their next governor on Sunday, rejecting a former prime minister who had tried to turn the local election into a public referendum on the future of nuclear energy in Japan. TOKYO — Tokyo voters chose the governing party candidate to be their next governor on Sunday, rejecting a former prime minister who had tried to turn the local election into a public referendum on the future of nuclear energy in Japan.
The victor, Yoichi Masuzoe, a former television commentator and health minister, ran a campaign that focused on local concerns like improving day care and completing preparations to host the 2020 Olympic Games, and gave little if any attention to national issues like nuclear power. He finished first in a field of 16 candidates, including Morihiro Hosokawa, a retired prime minister who had sought to rally voters who were worried about the safety of nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster.The victor, Yoichi Masuzoe, a former television commentator and health minister, ran a campaign that focused on local concerns like improving day care and completing preparations to host the 2020 Olympic Games, and gave little if any attention to national issues like nuclear power. He finished first in a field of 16 candidates, including Morihiro Hosokawa, a retired prime minister who had sought to rally voters who were worried about the safety of nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster.
Mr. Hosokawa, 76, was backed by another retired premier, Junichiro Koizumi, who remains popular. The two men waged a single-issue campaign aimed at the policies of the current prime minister, Shinzo Abe, who has called for restarting Japan’s idled nuclear plants as a source of low-cost power for economic growth. Mr. Hosokawa called for Tokyo to permanently forswear the use of atomically generated electricity.Mr. Hosokawa, 76, was backed by another retired premier, Junichiro Koizumi, who remains popular. The two men waged a single-issue campaign aimed at the policies of the current prime minister, Shinzo Abe, who has called for restarting Japan’s idled nuclear plants as a source of low-cost power for economic growth. Mr. Hosokawa called for Tokyo to permanently forswear the use of atomically generated electricity.
At first, his decision last month to put aside a retirement spent making pottery to run for office again generated a wave of public excitement. Many analysts saw his campaign as the first real chance to put the nuclear question directly to a large number of voters. Victories by the governing Liberal Democratic Party in two national elections after the accident are widely regarded as reflecting voters’ dissatisfaction with a previous opposition-party government, and not a conclusive show of support for Mr. Abe’s nuclear policies.At first, his decision last month to put aside a retirement spent making pottery to run for office again generated a wave of public excitement. Many analysts saw his campaign as the first real chance to put the nuclear question directly to a large number of voters. Victories by the governing Liberal Democratic Party in two national elections after the accident are widely regarded as reflecting voters’ dissatisfaction with a previous opposition-party government, and not a conclusive show of support for Mr. Abe’s nuclear policies.
During the campaign for the Tokyo governorship, Mr. Hosokawa and Mr. Koizumi drew huge crowds whenever they spoke, but analysts said that it was not clear whether the attraction was to the antinuclear message or Mr. Koizumi’s quirky charisma, which made him popular as prime minister a decade ago.During the campaign for the Tokyo governorship, Mr. Hosokawa and Mr. Koizumi drew huge crowds whenever they spoke, but analysts said that it was not clear whether the attraction was to the antinuclear message or Mr. Koizumi’s quirky charisma, which made him popular as prime minister a decade ago.
Analysts said on Sunday that Mr. Hosokawa’s defeat was probably less a rejection of his antinuclear message than of his focus on a distant, somewhat abstract national issue in a local election.Analysts said on Sunday that Mr. Hosokawa’s defeat was probably less a rejection of his antinuclear message than of his focus on a distant, somewhat abstract national issue in a local election.
“Tokyo’s voters ended up feeling cool toward the idea of using the governor’s election as a referendum on nuclear power,” said Kazuhisa Kawakami, a political expert at Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo. “They felt suspicious that candidates were trying to whip them up with simple-minded populist appeals.”“Tokyo’s voters ended up feeling cool toward the idea of using the governor’s election as a referendum on nuclear power,” said Kazuhisa Kawakami, a political expert at Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo. “They felt suspicious that candidates were trying to whip them up with simple-minded populist appeals.”
When vote tallying ended, Mr. Masuzoe had about 2.11 million votes, more than twice as many as his closest opponent, the Communist Party candidate Kenji Utsunomiya, who had about 975,000. Mr. Hosokawa ran third with about 940,000 votes, and Toshio Tamogami, an ultraconservative former air force general who focused on earthquake preparedness, was fourth with 602,000 votes. Most of the other 12 candidates were little-known independents who won few votes.When vote tallying ended, Mr. Masuzoe had about 2.11 million votes, more than twice as many as his closest opponent, the Communist Party candidate Kenji Utsunomiya, who had about 975,000. Mr. Hosokawa ran third with about 940,000 votes, and Toshio Tamogami, an ultraconservative former air force general who focused on earthquake preparedness, was fourth with 602,000 votes. Most of the other 12 candidates were little-known independents who won few votes.
Mr. Masuzoe benefited from relatively low turnout, reflecting voter apathy as well as concerns about road safety, a day after Tokyo’s heaviest snowfall in more than two decades. The Liberal Democratic Party, which backed him, is especially adept at getting its voters to the polls, analysts said.Mr. Masuzoe benefited from relatively low turnout, reflecting voter apathy as well as concerns about road safety, a day after Tokyo’s heaviest snowfall in more than two decades. The Liberal Democratic Party, which backed him, is especially adept at getting its voters to the polls, analysts said.
Mr. Hosokawa also suffered to some extent from splitting the antinuclear vote with Mr. Utsunomiya, a popular consumer-rights lawyer backed by the left-wing parties, including the Communists. Mr. Utsunomiya appeared to benefit from campaigning on more issues than just nuclear power, analysts said.Mr. Hosokawa also suffered to some extent from splitting the antinuclear vote with Mr. Utsunomiya, a popular consumer-rights lawyer backed by the left-wing parties, including the Communists. Mr. Utsunomiya appeared to benefit from campaigning on more issues than just nuclear power, analysts said.
Though they conceded defeat on Sunday, Mr. Hosokawa and Mr. Koizumi said they would not give up campaigning against atomic power. “I will continue efforts to make a nuclear-free Japan,” Mr. Koizumi said in a statement.Though they conceded defeat on Sunday, Mr. Hosokawa and Mr. Koizumi said they would not give up campaigning against atomic power. “I will continue efforts to make a nuclear-free Japan,” Mr. Koizumi said in a statement.
Analysts said Mr. Masuzoe prevailed by running a less flashy campaign that focused on meat-and-potatoes issues and managed to overcome negative publicity over sexist comments he made more than two decades ago.Analysts said Mr. Masuzoe prevailed by running a less flashy campaign that focused on meat-and-potatoes issues and managed to overcome negative publicity over sexist comments he made more than two decades ago.
Outside a polling station in Chofu, a city administered by Tokyo, voters seemed reassured by Mr. Masuzoe’s focus on local issues. “The governor should serve the residents of Tokyo,” said Akira Osumi, 85, a pensioner. “I felt we could entrust Tokyo to him.”Outside a polling station in Chofu, a city administered by Tokyo, voters seemed reassured by Mr. Masuzoe’s focus on local issues. “The governor should serve the residents of Tokyo,” said Akira Osumi, 85, a pensioner. “I felt we could entrust Tokyo to him.”
Others said they felt sympathetic to Mr. Hosokawa, but not enough to vote for him.Others said they felt sympathetic to Mr. Hosokawa, but not enough to vote for him.
“I understand the antinuclear feelings, but the Tokyo governor should not be involved in all that,” said Manabu Odagiri, 62, who also voted for Mr. Masuzoe. “Mr. Hosokawa’s effort to turn this into an election over national issues was not realistic.”“I understand the antinuclear feelings, but the Tokyo governor should not be involved in all that,” said Manabu Odagiri, 62, who also voted for Mr. Masuzoe. “Mr. Hosokawa’s effort to turn this into an election over national issues was not realistic.”