Open thread for local elections

Thanks to the power of exit polls, we already know the results of some of tonight’s polls. For instance, Ishihara will remain governor of Tokyo for another four years (!). For updates on developments in the election, keep an eye on my Twitter feed. No live blogging tonight. Biking around my old stomping grounds in Adachi-ku has sapped my energy.

Feel free to leave comments/reactions below!

Photo: Osaka governor voting today in a track suit.

9 thoughts on “Open thread for local elections”

  1. Sad day for Japan. I loathe Higashikokubaru. I know several elderly people who originally said “I guess we have enough with Ishihara” but changed their minds and voted for Ishihara after they knew that Higashikokubara is running for the election.

  2. That article says it was Aso’s idea and Higashi refused.

    Higashi is probably the only active Japanese politician whose charisma rivals Koizumi’s, and I think he could be an excellent PM, in the sense of adding some gravitas and stability to the government, if he only got serious. Though foreign pols would probably have a lot of trouble saying his name.

    That said, I probably would have voted for Watanabe this time, since running a chain of izakayas has to be the closest private-sector experience to running Tokyo.

  3. Tomojiro, I have heard people say that about Ishihara for two straight elections — but there is no viable alternative, or at least, the alternatives running in competition to him are big jokes.

  4. “Tomojiro, I have heard people say that about Ishihara for two straight elections—but there is no viable alternative, or at least, the alternatives running in competition to him are big jokes.”

    That’s true. I seriously considered to vote for Dr. Nakamatsu for a moment, thinking to my self “Am I becoming crazy?”

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