Tokyo election, Koike's popularity could shift political landscape in Japan

Anything is better than Abe.

True.

Noticed one local Candidate also moved from LDP to her party.

Going to be interesting tomorrow. Hoping Komeito shifts their support fully. Coalition her, Renho and Komeito.

She does not exactly look like someone I would have endorse without look into, but at this point in reality anyone not outright criminal is better than those militaristic nationalists sinking the ship. I wish her best regards if she means well. Otherwise, no one would be surprised anymore...

She made a pretty good Defense Minister before. Certainly better than the current one.

Hoping Komeito shifts their support fully. Coalition her, Renho and Komeito.

Meaning what? They have already agreed to support her to form a coalition in the assembly, what else do you want from them?

This article is doing a pretty good job itself of trying to make her look as a power hungry politician, by making the comments about her switching parties and inferring it's for personal gain.

For once I would like to see articles that are truly balanced!

Tokyo Komeito has her support, i want a clear cut from the LDP.

Yubaru, I agree with you. There is a negative slant to this reporting. The comments by Mr. Kingston as well, that she has reached her peak and now it is all downhill from here, also shows that the powers that be are afraid of her. The LDP has been trying to smear her for a long time, now I fear the long knives will be out and coming from everywhere.

Tokyo Komeito has her support, i want a clear cut from the LDP.

Never going to happen, ever. Not when just about every major politician and party here at one time or another were LDP as well.

LDP been low on Komeito for some time.

They wouldn't have the majority without Komeito.

If course Komeito has their own goals but current situation an LDP partnership is no longer desireable to their goals.

Whatever happens, I hope that Japan will move less right wing and give back the freedoms they took (in the form of new laws) to the press and the people.

nationalistic and hawkish stances on defense on the back burner

these words alone and her membership of nippon kaigei mean i don't trust her. but, better than Ishihara and abe.

She has put her nationalistic and hawkish stances on defense on the back burner.

She needs to abandon them altogether or she will be seen as an LDP lite. She doesn't need the nationalists to win. She needs to excite the masses who, in my opinion, are by and large NOT nationalists. Those people can help project her into power.

A reformist image and challenge to the male-dominated Tokyo city government have won her an approval rating of around 60 percent.

Not only Tokyo. I'd say that's exactly what Japanese politics are.

The assembly has long been dominated by the Tokyo branch of the LDP, and Koike has portrayed it as the anti-reform politics of the old boys.

Again this all Japan. Not just Tokyo. But when this is the situation in Tokyo, which wants to be a global city on par with places like New York, London, Rome, Sydney, Toronto, or Amsterdam, for example, its not only pathetic, its embarrassing.

She has pushed administrative reforms, reviewed costly venues for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to reduce city spending, suspended a divisive relocation of the Tsukiji fish market over safety concerns and halved her salary. "It's a typical populist approach.

Or maybe she is just not as corrupt as the establishment.

She is challenging the establishment and stressing she is on the side of Tokyo residents,"

She is.

Media polls show Koike's Tomin party slightly ahead of the LDP in the race for the 127-seat assembly. Some experts predict victory for most of the 50 Tomin candidates even though most are unknowns.

Fingers crossed.

Hakubun Shimomura, a senior LDP lawmaker in charge of the party's Tokyo branch, has said he expects a setback.

Good.

The ruling party's popularity has been hit by scandals and gaffes at the national level, and for railroading a contentious anti-conspiracy law through parliament.

They deserve a setback. Hell, Abe and his minions should be where Park Geun-hye is now.

Koike, despite her row with the LDP's Tokyo branch, has maintained friendly ties with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, prompting speculation she may eventually return to national politics.

That can hurt her in the polls. Abe is not popular. She should make a clean break. 

Anything is better than Abe.

I concur gogogo.

Many here are critical about Abe. However, Abe is superior to Koike in his powerful style of politics which is most needed in today's Japan. He is decisive and his standpoint is clear. Many Japanese politicians are willy nilly. Scandals involving him is small. We do not want turmoils of Japanese politics again which continued long time changing prime ministers every year. Koike appears a populist and she is a wind cock.

As an Asian non-Japanese, I have been impressed by her. I hope she makes it to the top office of PM.

The key to achieving stability will be enforcing greater governance over political parties. The only source of power is to leverage the size of groups to steer the DPJ toward desired directions, as Koike is unlikely to spearhead a revolt and join hands with the opposition LDP.

There has been virtually no debate on reforms of the tax and social security systems and how to reduce the increase in social security outlays, restructure the various pension into a single program, provide medical coverage for the elderly, and address the dramatic rise in welfare subsidies. Policy differences between the two parties are not very significant, and both parties are aware of the need for reform. But the financial institutions would see their assets dwindle. But it could have a significant impact on local banks and credit associations.

Koike is not committed to making decisions that really matter to Tokyo and Japan’s future. Koike will do nothing to raise Japan’s political standards. A change in government will do nothing to improve the situation. Should the economy takes a turn for the worse, a demagogue could appear to take Japan toward a dangerous course. This is probably the biggest challenge in overcoming the currently political instability in Japan.

If she cleans up the smoking in the restaurants she will have my support.

Many here are critical about Abe. However, Abe is superior to Koike in his powerful style of politics which is most needed in today's Japan. He is decisive and his standpoint is clear. Many Japanese politicians are willy nilly. Scandals involving him is small. We do not want turmoils of Japanese politics again which continued long time changing prime ministers every year. Koike appears a populist and she is a wind cock.

For someone claiming to be Japanese, having no interest in English or foreigners, you sure do often make some comments that say otherwise.

Pray tell, just WHAT, has Abe done? Besides pushing through legislation that only he wants, donate billions upon billions of yen to those same foreigner's that you have no interest in, continually brushes off accusation upon accusation of graft and corruption , and shoves everything down the public's throat, and he is what is needed? You like dictators huh?

Koike is better for Tokyo, even with her changing alliances, and I for one can't blame her really, as she would never have had a chance to be where she is if she had not done what she did, yet she is fighting to change the establishment.

I think you fear a strong woman leader, no matter if it was Koike or someone else.

Don't hold your breath.Granted way better than 20yrs ago.

My own town now bans smoking in all shopping areas, around goverment offices, bus stops, etc. Discarding butts is a nono.

Koike is better for Tokyo,

Koike is trying to turn a dual system into her sole control. That is a problem.

Disagree my town nor mitaka will accept.

Interesting how majority posters here have retrograde amnesia. This individual,as far as I know is still a nippon kaigi card carrier. And unless she completely denounces this rogue cult, she's peddling snake oil and is simply abe in a dress!!

@yubaru. thank you i don't need to say the same thing. tomorrow will be the last card to stop japan becoming a totalitarian state.

SchopenhauerToday  09:39 am JST

Many here are critical about Abe. However, Abe is superior to Koike in his powerful style of politics which is most needed in today's Japan. He is decisive and his standpoint is clear.

You are joking, aren't you?

Visit Mitaka or Musashino and prove me wrong.

Both are -shi and not part of Tokyo(23 wards).Hence different rules, etc apply.

How can Koike be touted as a future prime minister when she claims to have left the LDP? That could only happen if she rejoined the LDP in the future, which would suggest her "leaving the LDP" was nothing more than theatrics intended to fool a gullible electorate. Such a person deserves nothing but contempt.

And have the LDP actually accepted Koike's resignation from the party?

Co yeast this woman with the dolt Inada, who should be in prison. My only real gripe with Koike at the moment is that she buckled on Toyosu Market just before the election.

Why do the left always want to throw those who disagree with them in prison?

How can Koike be touted as a future prime minister when she claims to have left the LDP?

She didnt "claim" anything, she LEFT the LDP because they left her by the wayside and would not give her the chance to be the gov og Tokyo.

Live and learn...