Koike's party, allies score big victory in Tokyo metropolitan assembly election

Two-words say it all; media-savvy. Koike can communicate her ideas while most in the LDP stick to the same, old, tired cliches about fulfilling their duties after getting caught doing something wrong. The fact that Koike seems to care about something other than herself also seems to matter.

A win for Japanese people. She is basically running on the same principles as Koizumi did, buck the system, more transparency and screw the old boys. Props to her. LDP will regret ousting her

Rather than a victory for Tokyo Citizens First, this is a defeat for the LDP," said Ishiba, who is widely seen as an Abe rival within the ruling party.

Spin doctors hard at work. Now that Koike has the power, I sincerely hope she puts it to good use. At least the LDP got beat bad enough that they won't be a problem, but the newcomers to the assembly better be ready to fight for what they want to change.

Congrats to her, I just hope what I've heard about her being a member of the Nippon Kaigi doesn't rear its head the moment she gets more influence.

I'm just a bit wary of her partnering with Komeito. How can they be the junior coalition partner in the national diet, but now a rival in the Tokyo Metropolitan gov't!

I can't understand how a cult religion has a political party in the first place, let alone a cult religion that refuses to affirm whether its leader is dead or alive.

I'm just glad that Abe's goons finally got the thrashing they deserve. Congratulations Koike!

Nice one, Koike-san.

What's next for Abe-san?

A huge attack of the "tummywobbles" and stepping down again?

I'm just a bit wary of her partnering with Komeito. How can they be the junior coalition partner in the national diet, but now a rival in the Tokyo Metropolitan gov't! This could be one way for Komeito to push Abe to accept more of their ideas in the diet, or they will threaten to vote with Koike in Tokyo. Strange bed fellows for sure.

Not a win for Tokyo First, a loss for LDP.

And what will the LDP do about this important loss?

First, the defense minister gets thrown under the bus; then Abe or one of his mindless mouthpieces (Suga) will say something along the lines of Understanding and Cooperating; then Abe will decide on a Stimulus package (cash for the electorate) that will only accomplish the LDP getting more votes. Followed by more of the same LDP antics. i.e. No change.

Unless, I say, unless voters nationwide give LDP another loss the next time Abe decides to have an election. Or if Komeito starts flexing some muscles against Abe and his right-wing/militarist/war-threatening goons.

Wow! 51% voter turnout? That has to be some kind of record for a local election.

I like abe being put in his place as much as anybody else. My only concern is that despite severing ties with ldp, she hasn't really severed ties with the nippon kaigi cult. How in the world can any of you not see this?

Anything is better than Abe, let's hope she doesn't road block everything

Among those many political insiders expect to be replaced is Defense Minister Tomomi Inada. Inada's remark during the Tokyo campaign seeking voter support in the name of the Self-Defense Forces, as the military is known, came under heavy fire. By law, the military is required to be politically neutral.

What I tell ya? Give it a week or two at most and I'll bet she is gone.

Well done, Koike and Co! Would have loved to have seen Abe's smug face last night, and pointed out to him that he obviously needs to drop Constitutional reform. And I'm glad the Komeito is backing away from the LDP, who have been treating them like crap lately anyway. It'd be nice to see the Komeito not have to sell out to the LDP anymore.

A very good day for Japan.

The Communist party won FOUR less seats than the LDP. Wow!

As much as it is good to see a majority vote for the DPJ in the Tokyo local election, it is unlikely to effect a federal election mostly due to voter apathy. The only way the DPJ would win a national election is if Koike herself ran for PM, but that is very unlikely to happen. Furthermore, recent history shows that, the DPJ may well have the power to win a national election, they don't have the power to stay in office. The strength of the right-wing nationalistic LDP goes far too deep into society to give the democrats a fair go.

I can't understand how a cult religion has a political party in the first place, let alone a cult religion that refuses to affirm whether its leader is dead or alive.

Except that they're not a cult, but simply one of many Nichiren Buddhist sects in Japan, with a very large membership of normal people living normal lives, within Japan and around the world.

OTOH, an argument can be made that ALL religions are cults to some extent. So, maybe you have a point.

Great news! It's also good to hear Inada will likely be replaced. Her shocking incompetence and lack of qualification makes her a national security threat and must be removed immediately. It should also be investigated how she got there in the first place

@dukeleto

garypen was talking about the membership of a Buddhist sect (in response to a comment about Komeito); you are talking about Nippon Kaigi. Entirely different things

Congratulations Koike for your magnificent victory in Tokyo Assembly Elections

Little intelligence in the LDP. Nationalism, retro-looking, etc. Young Japan is waking up to the world. Abe & Co. are passé.

Mr. Abe, you gave it your best shot. Go in a dignified manner. Please.

DukeletoToday  09:44 am JST

Interesting info below from wikipedia on the Nippon Kaigi group which seems to contradict the statement by garypen that they have a large membership. 38,000 which is about 0.0299% of the Japanese population if all the members are in fact Japanese.

Unfortunately it appears that quite a lot of those 38,000 members are rich, powerful and important, e.g. the Prime Minister, most of his Cabinet and around two thirds of all the Diet members. I wouldn't have thought they let any of the peasants, or ordinary Japanese citizens as everyone else thinks of them, join.

Nice! Also nice is that as long as the LDP are around she can keep winning against them

As much as it is good to see a majority vote for the DPJ in the Tokyo local election, 

What election are you talking about? The DJP took 5 seats and you call that a majority?

Ikeda no longer is in charge of SG, SGI is another matter.

He is still alive, suffering from sickness but still attends some local events.

That's shows Japanese voter in general and Tokyo citizens in particular able to exercise their votes and perform check and balance on the polititicans. And some says Japan is not a democracy, smh....

>

Mr. Abe, you gave it your best shot. Go in a dignified manner. Please.

Or undignified, as you prefer. Either will do.

Meanwhile, who is the one Tomin First candidate who didn't get elected? What a burden of shame on that person!

It was down in the islands (Ogasawara), which is called Shima bu.

I am surprised by the communist party. Nothing good from a communist party. All my time living in Japan did not realize there this party...

You talking about the 3rd President, current president is 6th.

Koike vs the LDP; same soup, different bowl.

Political parties in Japan are like political parties anywhere else, they exist to divide and manipulate the people. The various people belong to various political parties, some for ideological reasons, others for practical reasons (if I am a banker in New York, I have no choice but to be a registered democrat). But politicians belong to only one party, the party of self-interest.

Politicians foment issues to inflame followers of their particular party. Because everybody is different, and has different beliefs, politicians hold these differences against each other. Gay people are bad, religious people are bad, conservatives are bad, socialists are bad. In reality, none of these people are bad, but politicians drive their followers to hate and fear particular groups of people, and their followers will elect, re-elect, and allow their leaders to enact laws to protect them from those they hate and fear. These laws do little to protect the people, but they go a long way to increasing the power, authority, and wealth of politicians and their friends.

On a small scale, this causes problems like the political polarization of America. On a large scale, this leads to world wars. Left alone, people tend to get along quite well. If not driven to fear and hate by corrupt and dishonest political systems and politicians (and all are corrupt and dishonest), the world would be a happier and much more peaceful place.

While I like Koike-san and what she is doing by upsetting the apple cart, the mention of her being a member of Nippon Kaigi makes me wonder that even if she does replace Abe-san will the Japanese people just see more of the same once she takes power. Interesting info below from wikipedia on the Nippon Kaigi group which seems to contradict the statement by garypen that they have a large membership. 38,000 which is about 0.0299% of the Japanese population if all the members are in fact Japanese.

The Nippon Kaigi (日本会議, "Japan Conference")[1] is a Japanese nationalist unincorporated association and State Shinto-advocating religious organization that was established in 1997 and has approximately 38,000 members.[1][2][3] The group is influential in the legislative and executive branches of the Japanese government through its affiliates.[2][4] Shinzō Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan, serves as a special advisor to the group's parliamentary league.[1]

The group describes its aims as to "change the postwar national consciousness based on the Tokyo Tribunal's view of history as a fundamental problem" and to "revise the current Constitution,"[5] and sees its mission to promote patriotic education, the revision of the Constitution of Japan, and support for prime ministers' official visits to Yasukuni Shrine.[6][7][8][9]

In the words of Hideaki Kase, an influential member of Nippon Kaigi, "We are dedicated to our conservative cause. We are monarchists. We are for revising the constitution. We are for the glory of the nation."[10] Nippon Kaigi supports revising the Japanese Constitution, especially Article 9 which forbids a standing army.[11]

Add in the percentage of the population living in the greater Tokyo area. Not that different from other countries.

I'm just a bit wary of her partnering with Komeito. How can they be the junior coalition partner in the national diet, but now a rival in the Tokyo Metropolitan gov't! This could be one way for Komeito to push Abe to accept more of their ideas in the diet, or they will threaten to vote with Koike in Tokyo. Strange bed fellows for sure.

Not really when you consider that the Komeito has many populist policies and are strong on social and family issues. They should do well with Koike and all those other women that got elected as well.

Once directly connected to Sokagakkai, many of it's members still are a part of that group.