Voter turnout low in Tokyo governor election

despite his alignment with the government on the need to restart Japan’s idled nuclear reactors.

Let them start any reactor that is actually in Tokyo. Anything else let the local voters decide. Tokyo is rich enough to build their own reactors.

There seem to be a lot of issues that cover this election. Why does JT seem to think that nuclear is the key today, when yesterday it was women's rights.

Even if Masuzoe gets no votes he'll still take it. The LDP is out of control and no one can stop them.

It's a pity we foreigners (Permanent Residents) don't get a chance to vote - after all, we also live here, pay taxes here and I have a feeling Hosokawa would have a better chance of winning...

Once again, Japanese voters will choose the leader they deserve.

Coal based energy kills 10s of thousands every year, and is a major contributor to climate changes. Nuclear energy is clean. If done properly, nuclear power is much preferable to coal power. The only problem is that the Japanese cannot be trusted to do nuclear power properly, as Tepco has proven so effectively.

Older voters having a difficult time getting to the polls in some areas in downtown Tokyo today due to the heavy snowfall yesterday. Slushy snow about a foot thick on side roads & alleys is causing walking difficulties for elderly voters. But perhaps conditions will be better by this afternoon as the sun is out and the temperature seems to be rising.

The fate of Tokyo will depend on who wins. If Masuzoe that will be the end of Tokyo and Japan.

This election shows Japan more than ever is an "Only Country for Old Men", and it looks like the outcome will be the election of a guy who cases little about creating a safe, sustainable, just and fair city for the people residing in Tokyo.

waste 2 energy power plants

"despite his alignment with the government on the need to restart Japan’s idled nuclear reactors."

I would say not despite, but because of. The electorate are no fools; they know the plants need to be running and more need to be built, to keep the economy booming and to keep the job marketing going. They also know the plants need to be outside Tokyo, in rural areas, for safety reasons. And, a leader aligned with the LDP is a must, as the LDP will be in power for the foreseeable future. The LDP basically is the government of Japan, and it's in the best interest of the people of Tokyo to get on board with the winning team.

I think permanent resident foreigners should be allowed to vote in municipal elections.Those people chose and went thru the process to be able to live here independently, pay taxes and are directly influenced by the government changes .

NHK says turnout is less than 5% so far.

A power source that can (and has) rendered large areas of land unlivable and unusable cannot be described as clean. You do understand that evacuees in Fukushima had to leave their houses within a matter of hours, don't you?

There have been three major meltdowns. How many millions have died in the same period of time as a result of coal usage? And the Fukushima disaster was a result of incompetent management of a 40 year old reactor. With newer reactors and competent management combined with independent oversight, nuclear power is a much safer and cleaner alternative to coal.

That said, renewable resources such as solar and wind power are preferable to both.

They'll be lucky if the turnout of the Tokyo governor election approaches 50%, given the worst snowstorm to hit the Kanto Plain in several decades. (I can just see many Japanese saying the snowstorm is the result of the kami are not happy over the voter choices in this election.) The snow was so deep even a vehicle with full-time four-wheel drive would have difficulty travelling on it.

It's dangerous outside, particularly for seniors ( people who actually bother voting ) and the candidates are hardly inspiring enough to get people to brave the conditions. 40% turnout?

'Some people said nuclear issues should not be on the agenda for Tokyo as it has no nuclear power stations, he noted.'

That's one for the people in Tokyo to consider whilst sipping their cesium laden green tea whilst savouring their mislabeled fish supper.......

I wonder if the 82% don't bother to vote so they can complain later. It's a shame they can't see their 'shou ga nai' attitude and complete apathy is what causes their own grief in most cases.

Too bad all the people who know how to run the country are busy posting on JT !

I had hoped that the weather would keep all the elderly, LDP supporters at home, allowing a victory for someone else. But, alas, the youngsters are only interested in their mobile phones.

Kurobune: "Too bad all the people who know how to run the country are busy posting on JT !"

Why? We can't vote anyway.

Turnout low or votes mysteriously disappeared to favor Masuzoe. Like I said before, LDP is unstoppable!

A 72-year-old woman said she voted for Masuzoe as he appeared to care more about issues affecting the elderly.

And I wonder whether she knows what Masuzoe thinks about women!

“I tried to resume working some time ago but was told by a Tokyo city official that it would deprive young people of jobs,” the discontented pensioner told AFP.

Jesus Christ! In any sane nation, she'd be retired or at least looking forward to retiring. It doesn't surprise me one bit that only ONE contender is under 50 years old. There are two over EIGHTY years old! I don't hate old people, but I think any decent city deserves someone with enough energy to run a city properly, be able to travel and is not expected to have a heart attack any moment.

In the end, Tokyo and Japan deserve what they ask for. Those able to go out and vote but can't be bothered have no right to complain about the outcome.

Probably most Japanese surrender to "business as usual" or inertia or status quo despite unsustainable outcome. So Tokyo will probably get a status quo governor.

“I tried to resume working some time ago but was told by a Tokyo city official that it would deprive young people of jobs,” the discontented pensioner told AFP.

Why would you listen to them? Do what's best for you.

The Japanese will eventually shoganai themselves into extinction. The choice of candidates is a joke. Lame, really old, or both. Yet, no one gets upset...shoganai.

Back on topic please. Posts that do not focus on the election will be removed.

What a self explainable headline. Today snow chaos first time in 40 years. Doh!

May the anti-nuclear party win. This will teach Shinzo Abe that he doe not have the support of the majority of the people.

@smith 5:38p - Exactly !

So the biggest weakling among the group of weaklings with no actual ideas won 30% of the vote from 46% of eligible voters who bothered to show up. And he probably believes he has a voter "mandate" because of the Sokka Gakkai cultists who support him? Yep, Tokyoites got the buffoon they deserve, along with the buffoon's inept master.