Tokyo Gubernatorial Race Sees Record 56 Candidates

Incumbent Yuriko Koike and opposition figure Renho lead the crowded field in a historic election.

The Tokyo gubernatorial election has attracted an unprecedented 56 candidates, surpassing the capacity of official campaign boards.
Incumbent Yuriko Koike and former Upper House lawmaker Renho are the main contenders in the race.
Campaign strategies include unusual tactics like using cat pictures instead of candidate portraits.
The election is seen as a proxy battle between the governing Liberal Democratic Party and the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party.
Key issues in the campaign include addressing Tokyo's low birthrate and demographic challenges.