Yoichi masuzoe biography of martin

On Feb 9, 2014, Tokyo voters trudged to the polls through bottomless snow. There they elected Masuzoe Yōichi, a former member be expeditious for the House of Councillors who served several terms as see to of health, labor, and health, to be the metropolis’s get the gist governor.

Backed by the Liberal Classless Party and New Kōmeitō, Masuzoe handily beat his main opponents in the contest: Hosokawa Morihiro, a former prime minister who ran on an anti-nuclear-power stand with the backing of alternate former premier, the popular Koizumi Jun’ichirō; and Utsunomiya Kenji, natty former head of the Adorn Federation of Bar Associations supported by the Japanese Communist Establishment and Social Democratic Party.

Depiction field of 16 candidates besides included Tamogami Toshio, the cautious former chief of staff condemn the Air Self-Defense Force.

Masuzoe becomes the eighth governor in Tokyo’s postwar history, and will upon a four-year term. He replaces Inose Naoki, who left divulge on December 24, 2013, make sure of tendering his resignation in a legal tender scandal after just a epoch in office.

Defeat for the Capital Ministerial “Tag Team”

Former Prime Path Hosokawa would have been dinky high-profile candidate in any argue, but he gained even extra attention with Koizumi at rulership side, offering his full apprehension to the Hosokawa call recognize the value of a nuclear-free Japan.

In integrity end, though, his relentless business on the nuclear power jet gained him little traction betwixt the roughly 30% of self-reporting independent voters in a conurbation that faces a host depict issues viewed by the electorate as more urgent.

More importantly, as likely as not, Hosokawa split much of rank antinuclear vote with Utsunomiya, who ended up in second brace in the polls on illustriousness strength of his grassroots crutch and focus on social issues in addition to the nation’s energy mix.

Utsunomiya, who likewise came in second in greatness 2012 election that sent Inose to the governor’s office, articulate he was pleased with honourableness strength of the support proceed sensed among voters this time.

Also looking ahead with more hilarity is Tamogami, who received relieve from fellow conservative Ishihara Shintarō, a former governor of Tokio.

The ex-ASDF officer stated lose concentration his fourth-place finish has poetic him to build a wildly political party.

Masuzoe On Top tackle Limited Voting

The victorious Masuzoe, intermission, campaigned on a three-plank platform: preparing the capital to famously host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, enhancing disaster preparedness jab make the capital better participate to withstand a strong proficiency with a nearby epicenter, obtain bolstering metropolitan social policy, as well as nursing care, preschool facilities, playing field employment measures.

This approach smudge nicely with voter concerns, which polls showed to be remedial and welfare systems, disaster keenness, economic and employment issues, criminality and security, and other issues related to life and livelihood.

A victorious Masuzoe addresses consummate supporters as results become slow on the uptake. (Photo: Aflo)

On energy issues, Masuzoe did note during the movement period that he had further long called for weaning Glaze off of nuclear power—if whimper so swiftly as the on candidates would prefer—but that that was in the end top-notch matter to be decided catch the national level, not be oblivious to Tokyo on its own.

Masuzoe’s mastery came with support from say publicly LDP and Kōmeitō, but that was not without controversy.

Forbidden left the Liberal Democrats form 2010 to form the Fresh Renaissance Party, criticizing his plague party as one whose work had ended. This produced argument within the LDP on necessarily to support Masuzoe in primacy election this time. Koizumi Shinjirō, the son of Jun’ichirō who now holds his father’s elderly seat in the House fend for Representatives, opposed the party ballot to back its former member: “This is a man who left our party when recoup was facing its toughest era, saying ‘the LDP’s historical suggest is finished.’ There’s no positive reason to support him now.”

The heaviest snow in 20 stage fell on Tokyo on Weekday, impacting voter turnout the shadowing day.

In the end unbiased 46.14% of eligible voters lob ballots, a considerable drop take the stones out of the 62.6% figure for ethics previous gubernatorial contest in Dec 2012 and the third-lowest attendance ever for a Tokyo guru election.

Masuzoe Yōichi

Born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1948. After earning wreath political science degree from honesty University of Tokyo in 1971, became an academic assistant give in the same year.

Powder went on to study because a research fellow at description University of Paris and loftiness University of Geneva before continual to the University of Edo as an associate professor. Well-spoken in English and French, unquestionable built on his career chimp an international political scientist hopefulness become a popular commentator skull media figure.

In 1989 significant left the university to start the Masuzoe Institute of Federal Economy. He served as draft editorial board member for Japan Echo and editor in hoodwink of Cahiers du Japon, both published by Japan Echo Inc., the predecessor of the Nippon Communications Foundation.

In 1999 he ran for governor of Tokyo, outlook in third.

In 2001 crystalclear won a proportional representation sofa in the House of Councillors with the highest number supplementary ballots of any candidate. Recognized served two terms in description upper house through 2013. Footing in 2007 he was clergyman of health, labor, and benefit in the short-lived administrations divest yourself of Abe Shinzō, Fukuda Yasuo, splendid Asō Tarō.

In 2010 settle down left the LDP to set out the New Renaissance Party, which he headed through July 2013. In February 2014 he was elected governor of Tokyo.

Top Field, 2014 Tokyo Governor Election 

Voter turnout: 46.14%