What do you think about Shintaro Ishihara's re-election for a 4th term as Tokyo governor?

Think the timing was sad, I would have liked to see somebody new in the position.

Not much. Ishihara's still got the backing of the aging Tokyo population unfortunately.

I think when people are faced with very dire situations, like Japan is right now, people have a tendency to stay with what they know. Even though Ishihara is a xenophobic hate filled old man, they would prefer him for a sense of stability. I can't figure out what accomplishments he was able to run on, as it seems his two big plans, the Olympic bid was a huge failure and waste of money, as was his bank, which was an even bigger failure. One point I disagree with a lot of people, I don't think Tokyo has as many old people as everybody thinks. Look at the countryside, there are no young people, they have all moved to Tokyo for jobs! If they had got out and voted there could have been a change. But 52% is embarrassing.

He is a highly intelligent man though. Yesterday he was extremely critical against japan... Especially the pachinko parlors and the vending machines, together using more electricity that the Fukushima complex was producing...I agreed with that...

What do you think about Shintaro Ishihara's re-election for a 4th term as Tokyo governor?

Dissapointed but mostly disgusted that Tokyoites are so simple minded to keep voting this old fool back in.

Downcast.

Supamoni (they've got a different name now) made an interesting point this morning; while the other candidates were refraining from the usual election circus because of the Tohoku disaster, Ishihara as the incumbent was well in the public eye in his disaster-boiler suit drinking the water, which gave him a strong PR advantage.

I'd rather him than that stupid comedian.

Koike would have been an improvement.

One BIG mistake...3

He'll be 82 years old during his last year in office.

The choice of candidates was like choosing between fire and hell.

Tokyo governor Ishihara was greatly helped by the Quake - in a crisis, people want stability. Anyone new would be stumbling around for a few months getting settled. Also, Tokyo governor Ishihara has political "pull" being active sooooo long. Many owes him favors, he can call construction firms to help out in the disaster area, he can readily handle logistics and supplies if TEPCO needs things. He's lucky, and fate gave him another term to allow him to help out.

Some people speaking sense here today on JT. Refreshing!

Being a foreigner in Japan I am not allowed to vote. This is the real crime.

Heaven help us!

Wasted chance.

Clearly shows that young Japanese are almost all apathetic when it comes to politics.

"I'd rather him than that stupid comedian."

Hey, Higashikokubaru hasn't been Sonomama for quite some time now, plus he was a very popular Miyazaki governor, there's no way he could be worse than Shintaro "Japan needs nuclear weapons, and the quake/tsunami was divine punishment for selfish people" Ishihara.

Sorry people who choose to vote selected the obvious. New blood desperately needed in Tokyo. He'll probably die in office. Who takes over then???

i think if he ran another four times he'd get the same result

Do the voters who voted for him feel the same about non-Japanese individuals as him? If they do, what does that tell you?

Were there no other candidates? Or, was it only the 'blue rinse set' that voted?

@cactusJack Do you understand what a "foreigner" is? I assure you, taking Japanese citizenship is not that difficult, give it a try.

pointofview, dont go accusing everyone who voted for him to be solely focused on ishihara's views on foreign residents in japan. you think that was his political platform? pretty shallow thinking.

Not surprised one bit! Everything is so predictable here.

Utter and total disbelief! But at the same time, quite predictable. I feel sorry for the people of Tokyo.

What do you think about Shintaro Ishihara's re-election for a 4th term as Tokyo governor?

It stinks.

The public get what the public want - that's democracy. Sad indictment on our Japanese friends' expectations from politicians (and could some of what he says be what they are secretly thinking???).

Missing from the Question is a story, and most of the foreign commenters don't seem to know the story. My understanding is that he was not going to run. Then after the earthquake he decided he just had to. Love him or hate him, he's not there because he wants to be. In that sense you could say he was not "helped" by the disaster. He's an old guy who probably wants to take a break. No opinion on him but I respect him for taking on a younger man's job out of duty in disaster time.

Does that mean he is gonna waste more money trying to get the olympics back to tokyo????

He has already said he is going for Olympics in 2020 (even though China just had them so zero chance of Japan getting them). lots of gifts and entertainment to be splashed around though.

I'm not sure how well he is performing, but someone like that Mayor down in Osaka would be good for Tokyo, principally because he's young. A 78 year offers little in the way of freshness in my opinion.

When I heard the news I rent my garments, gnashed my teeth and called up to heaven, "Why God, why have you forsaken us." And bear in mind I live in Nagoya.

At this point in time, in the wake of the triple disasters that have hit Japan [earthquake-cum-tsunami-cum-Daiichi], the people of Tokyo need a strong, decisive and experienced leader. Ishihara is just that.

A weak, indecisive and inexperienced leader during a crisis is a disaster in himself/herself. If I were a Tokyoite, I'd vote for Ishihara, too. It's comfort in familiarity as well, which helps when times are unpredictable.

Tokyo people are consistent.

@Richard, Osaka's mayor is in his late 60's. You mean Osaka Prefecture's governor. Yep, he is half the age of Ishihara. As they like antiques there, we'll send him back to Tokyo when he retires.

There are no other candidates, that is the only reason.

why why why ???? why ??? We have suffered enough from this Mouthpiece !!!

78 years old ? What does he do ?

Pointofview asks a key question: "Do the voters who voted for him feel the same about non-Japanese individuals as him? If they do, what does that tell you?"

Many Tokyoites seem to prefer someone who can offer them some kind of 'entertainment'. I imagine they think he is basically harmless, if noisy. And that he'll get censured if he goes overboard.

I am quite sure the Olympics will never come back to Tokyo while this neo-nationalist, repellant, openly racist rightist is 'governor'. It's ludicrous he seeks the honor of having secured a commitment the Olympics would be held here while in the same breath denigrating the world of non-Japanese.

How deep is his support base here, I wonder? He does seem to have taken advantage of the tacit but seemingly solid xenophobia embraced by so many here.