Tokyo's Gubernatorial Elections

A 13 billion yen outlay for 3 events in less than 4 years - what do you folks think this is? Tokyo is about to run 3rd election in a little short of 4 years to elect its governor.

This is a total absurdity - so silly that I hate to even write about it, much an episode on the subject. But I'm driven to do so, because I think you should know why it had to happen this way and how.

Youichi Masuzoe, the former governor, was a scholar-turned politician with little or no sense of self-control. He was made Governor of the Metropolitan Tokyo merely in the absence of an alternative. We thought he knew that but we've found out he didn't.

As a result, Masuzoe turned too big for his own good, lost what little left of his sense of balance and lost control of which purse to turn for his personal spendings. He is gone now but not for good; he has plenty to worry in the eyes of law. Let us see how he will fare.

Now, the gubernatorial election: the crucial issue is not so much Rio or Tokyo, Olympics that is, but how it links with the upcoming upper house election. Secretary-General of LDP Tanigaki knows the painful mistake made by his party in picking candidates the last two times and says, "We should not be hasty".

Chairman Okada of the opposition party, DP, looks for a candidate of his own party, while his associate Secretary Edano says the 4 opposition parties should unite behind a candidate - indicative of an intra-party row.

A potential LDP candidate Yuriko Koike made no comment; another Daiichi Suzuki, current head of the Cuture Agency denied "5505% no".

The Tokyoites expended 4.6 trillion to elect Masuzoe the year before last and 5 trillion yen to clean up his mess - almost 10 trillion to receive and see off a man. What a shame.
(Nathan Shiga)