Tokyo Governor Koike Seeks Reelection to Set Up Unprecedented Race
- Victory for Koike would be relief for Japan’s ruling party
- Race set to feature two prominent woman running for post
The first woman to serve as leader of Tokyo’s 14-million strong population, Koike is known for smashing a series of glass ceilings in Japanese politics.
Photographer: Shoko Takayasu/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said she would run for a third straight term as leader of the Japanese capital, setting up an unprecedented race between two women for one of the highest-profile positions in the country’s politics.
Koike made the announcement at a metropolitan assembly meeting Wednesday, just over a week before official campaigning begins for the July 7 vote. She touted Tokyo’s initiatives under her leadership to tackle major issues facing Japan, such as the falling birthrate, the advancement of women and digitalization.