On the campaign trail

Now the news is saying he is suspected of having the H1N1 virus. He REALLY has an uphill battle now!

I have heard that he is going up against Koizumi Junior. Going to be a bit of an up hill battle no matter which way the wind is blowing against the LDP.

Japan's Pee Wee Herman??

He looks like a good-value-for- money candidate. He is alone all by himself or there is an escort car besides him?

Good for him. I wish more candidates would do that here in the U.S.

I remember when Lamar Alexander campaigned for governor of Tennessee by walking around the entire state and meeting people person-to-person. He won, of course.

Once in office, though, the incumbents often seem to hide from the voting public.

Minshuto is going to lose.

He's riding the mama chari with the seat low because it's funny, it's part of his gimmick- good on him for having a sense of humour. Would it be better if he was on a mountain bike?

He may look ridiculous but I'd vote for him simply because he's not riding around in one of those stupid trucks having some chick repeat his name ad nauseum.

He's a very serious young man (his adventures on "Ainori" notwithstanding), I think he will take longer than usual to have the idealism wrung out of him...

Hey, if it isn't "Mr. Prime Minister" (his nickname at the time) from the second-to-last season of "AINORI"!!

THAT'S where I know the face from. Thanks for that.

On yer bike, Yokokume!

needs to put the seat up -that looks painful

These bikes are designed for women so the saddle column is really short. I needed to buy a new one for mine.

yes, from the picture, and the comments, and from the expression on his face.

womanforwomen-you got that all from one picture.

Guys, just leave him alone. I like him. He is humble and modest. What's wrong with the white towel? It is to wipe off the sweat.I would marry him if I was free.

good luck to him - green and no load haler.

But - please raise your seat! Why do Japanese insist on having the seat so low??!?

Good on him for not driving around in one of those vans with the ear-splittingly loud speakers, obnoxiously waking people up at 8:30am on a Sunday morning! :) Not to mention being more environmentally friendly!

That bike sucks

Its a kaimono mama bike at best. He should have got something a little more masculine to ride, like a mountain bike.

Just another cliched element within the soap opera that is Japanese politics. Least he is not wearing white gloves with a tea towel around his head.

In the Tokyo elections one of the campaigners also electioneered on a bike near our place. He always wore a bright pink windcheater (must have been hot for him) and also had a bright pink flag on the back of his bike proclaiming his name and the fact he was 28. I don't know how he went in the elections but I hope he got in.

Good luck to Mr. Yokokume, I hope he beats the clueless son of the brainless ex-PM Koizumi. I mean, this was a guy who was more interested in his image than actually trying to achieve anything in office. Nothing like good old fashioned nepotism.

needs to put the seat up -that looks painful

Hey, if it isn't "Mr. Prime Minister" (his nickname at the time) from the second-to-last season of "AINORI"!!

Gee, he said someday he was going to run for office, and here he is actually doing it! Good for him.

There was an incident earlier this year where the younger Koizumi completely and quite pointedly ignored Yokoume's proffered greeting at a very public event, then got butt-kicked by the 'wide shows' for his arrogance.

That bike sucks. The handlebars suck, it's got an old style generator light that has to rub the tire to work, and it's got one of those kickstands that require the bike to be raised up off the ground.

There's a guy in Musashino-shi in Tokyo who campaigns on a kind of tricycle- he claims he can't afford the vans and loudspeakers. His supporters walk along with him. It certainly gets your attention, far more than the ubiquitous vans.

At least he doesn't have a megaphone blasting out his propaganda.