2014 Tokyo gubernatorial election

Election for Governor of Tokyo 2014 Tokyo gubernatorial election Tokyo Gubernatorial no 2012 Tokyo gubernatorial election 2012 9 February 2014 2016 Tokyo gubernatorial election 2016 46.14% 16.46 pp Supported by Yōichi Masuzoe, Governor of Tokyo (cropped).jpg 148 120 150 12 12 Yōichi Masuzoe Independent (politician) 009933 2,112,979 42.86% LDP, NK 宇都宮健児 (cropped).png 120 120 150 0 0 Kenji Utsunomiya Independent (politician) 0000CD 982,595 19.93% JCP, SDP, GJ Morihiro Hosokawa cropped 2 Morihiro Hosokawa 19930809.jpg 120 120 150 0 0 Morihiro Hosokawa Independent (politician) BD0000 956,063 19.39% DPJ, PLP, UP Toshio Tamogami 2014-02-02 (cropped).jpg 120 120 150 0 0 Toshio Tamogami Independent (politician) 4B0082 610,865 12.39% ISS Governor Naoki Inose Independent (politician) Yoichi Masuzoe Independent (politician) 2014 Tokyo Gubernatorial Election by municipalities.svg Election results by municipalities. The 2014 Tokyo gubernatorial election took place on February 9, 2014 to replace outgoing Governor Naoki Inose, who resigned effective December 24, 2013.東京都知事選、2月9日投開票に決定 都選管 http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDG25018_V21C13A2000000/?dg=1 25 December 2013 日本経済新聞 25 December 2013 Yōichi Masuzoe was declared the winner in exit polling, with a substantial lead over the fifteen other candidates.Masuzoe projected to be next Tokyo governor http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140209_91.html 9 February 2014 NHK World 9 February 2014 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140222142915/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20140209_91.html 22 February 2014 His final tally was 2,112,979 votes (42.86%), with his two closest competitors Morihiro Hosokawa and Kenji Utsunomiya failing to break the 20% mark.平成26年 東京都知事選挙 開票結果 http://sokuho.h26tochijisen.metro.tokyo.jp/h26chi_kai.html 東京都選挙管理委員会 10 February 2014 dead https://archive.today/20140210010234/http://sokuho.h26tochijisen.metro.tokyo.jp/h26chi_kai.html 10 February 2014 Total turnout was 4,930,251 (46.14%), significantly lower than the 62.6% turnout in the 2012 election.平成26年 東京都知事選挙 投票結果 http://sokuho.h26tochijisen.metro.tokyo.jp/h26chi_tou_2200.html 東京都選挙管理委員会 10 February 2014 https://archive.today/20140210010314/http://sokuho.h26tochijisen.metro.tokyo.jp/h26chi_tou_2200.html 10 February 2014 dead dmy-all Background Tokyo governor Naoki Inose abruptly resigned in December 2013 following a month-long investigation into a political funds scandal. His resignation came in the midst of various preparations for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which had been awarded to Tokyo earlier in the year, including the formation of an organization committee (due by February 2014), the allocation of 10.3 billion yen in Olympics-related funding, and negotiation with the national government over the construction of the new National Olympic Stadium.Martin Alexander Race to Become Next Tokyo Governor Kicks Off https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2013/12/20/race-to-become-next-tokyo-governor-kicks-off/ 24 December 2013 Wall Street Journal Japan Real Time 20 December 2013 The election campaign was set to officially begin on January 23, 2014 and was one of three critical electoral tests for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in early 2014, along with the January 19 mayoral election in Nago, Okinawa (widely viewed as a referendum on the relocation plan of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma), in which the incumbent mayor, who is against the plan, was re-elected, and the late February gubernatorial election in Yamaguchi Prefecture.「選挙に強い石破」の見せ所...自民、3勝へ全力 http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/local/news/20140108-OYT1T00198.htm 9 January 2014 読売新聞 8 January 2013 Yoichi Masuzoe was initially seen as the strongest candidate in the race due to his popularity and support from the LDP. In mid-January, former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa emerged as a second strong candidate with the backing of former LDP Prime Minister Junichirō Koizumi, with his platform focusing on opposition to the restart of nuclear power generation in Japan.Martin Alexander Ex-PMs Join Hands In Tokyo Governor's Race https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2014/01/14/ex-pms-join-hands-in-tokyo-governors-race 15 January 2014 Wall Street Journal Japan Real Time 14 January 2014 Prime Minister Shinzō Abe stated his concern that the campaign would focus on the nuclear issue at the expense of other issues.小野 甲太郎 安倍首相、「脱原発」争点化に警戒感 都知事選 http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASG1F0PK4G1DUTFK006.html 13 January 2014 朝日新聞 13 January 2014 Masuzoe, who supported a gradual phase-out of nuclear power, stated that "choosing the Tokyo governor based (solely) on whether they favor or oppose nuclear power seems odd." Masuzoe was endorsed by the LDP and Komeito, while Hosokawa was endorsed by the Democratic Party of Japan, People's Life Party and Unity Party (Japan), and the Social Democratic Party of Japan and Japanese Communist Party endorsed former Japan Federation of Bar Associations president Kenji Utsunomiya.自公は舛添氏、民・結い・生が細川氏 都知事選 http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFK19009_Z10C14A1000000/ 20 January 2014 日本経済新聞 19 January 2014 There were 10.8 million eligible voters, a new all-time high.Nihon Keizai Shimbun, 23 January 2014: 都知事選、有権者最多の1082万人 (limited access) Of these, 7.4 million lived in special wards, 3.3 million in cities, less than 0.1 million in the towns and villages in West Tama and on the islands.Tokyo Metropolitan election commission, 22 January 2014: 平成26年2月9日執行東京都知事選挙における選挙人名簿登録者数 https://web.archive.org/web/20140202195829/http://www.h26tochijisen.metro.tokyo.jp/pdf/electoral_roll.pdf 2014-02-02 In the first three days of early voting (possible from the day after the official campaign start), turnout increased tenfold compared to the same period in the previous gubernatorial election of 2012; but in 2012, the national House of Representatives election was held together with the gubernatorial election, and the legal campaign period for Representatives elections is twelve days – five days less than in elections for prefectural governors, so many early voters in 2012 waited until the official start of the lower house campaign to cast their ballots in both elections. Compared to the 2011 gubernatorial election when no national election was held simultaneously, turnout in the first three days of early voting increased by 60%.Tōkyō Shimbun, 28 January 2014: 都知事選 期日前投票数 前々回同時期の1．6倍 https://web.archive.org/web/20140203142100/http://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/tokyo/20140128/CK2014012802000111.html 2014-02-03 A blizzard struck eastern Japan on the day before the election, bringing the most snow seen in Tokyo in two decades. Residual snow on the streets impacted voter turnout on election day.Martin Alexander Snow Hits Tokyo Election Turnout https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2014/02/09/snow-hits-tokyo-election-turnout/ 10 February 2014 Wall Street Journal Japan Real Time 9 February 2014 On the remote island of Haha-jima in Ogasawara village, the election was held one day earlier than in the rest of Tokyo (kuriage-tōhyō), i.e. the election day is February 8.http://www.vill.ogasawara.tokyo.jp/newsletter/pdf/no_624.pdf Ogasawara Newsletter No. 624, election special edition, 10 January 2014 1 February 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140202184032/http://www.vill.ogasawara.tokyo.jp/newsletter/pdf/no_624.pdf 2 February 2014 dead dmy-all Polling A poll conducted shortly after Hosokawa's announcement, as reported by the Sankei-affiliated news site ZAKZAK, showed that 40% of Tokyo voters supported Masuzoe, 16% supported Hosokawa, 15% supported Utsunomiya and 6% supported Tamogami.細川氏を直撃する"三重苦" 小泉氏の支援も効果薄く... 3位以下の可能性も http://www.zakzak.co.jp/society/politics/news/20140121/plt1401211528004-n1.htm 22 January 2014 ZAKZAK 21 January 2014 Masuzoe maintained the lead over Hosokawa, Utsunomiya and Tamogami in four separate polls conducted January 23–24 by Mainichi Shimbun, Kyodo News, Sankei Shimbun and Fuji Television.都知事選、舛添氏「優勢」か 各種世論調査で細川氏らをリード http://www.j-cast.com/2014/01/25195068.html 27 January 2014 J-CAST News 25 January 2014 This ranking remained unchanged in a February 1–2 polling by Mainichi, although 30% of voters remained undecided.Masuzoe ahead of pack in Tokyo gubernatorial race: Mainichi poll http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140203p2a00m0na014000c.html 3 February 2014 Mainichi Shimbun 3 February 2014 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140221055940/http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140203p2a00m0na014000c.html 21 February 2014 These outlets refrained from disclosing actual poll numbers in order to comply with Japanese election laws.Martin Alexander Polls Show Ex-PM Hosokawa's Tokyo Governor Bid Not Gaining Traction https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2014/01/27/polls-show-ex-pm-hosokawas-tokyo-governor-bid-not-gaining-traction/?mod=WSJ_Japan_JapanRealTime 28 January 2014 Wall Street Journal Japan Real Time 27 January 2014 An electoral simulation by the LDP in January, as reported by the weekly magazine Shukan Post, resulted in 42% voting for Hosokawa, 39% for Masuzoe, 10% for Utsunomiya and 7% for Tamogami, assuming a typical turnout of their respective supporting bases (around 55% of the total electorate), with the caveat that a large turnout by anti-nuclear supporters could tip the balance further against Masuzoe.都知事選投票率55%で宇都宮60万、舛添230万、細川250万予測 http://www.news-postseven.com/archives/20140120_237066.html 21 January 2014 週間ポスト 20 January 2014 「有権者総数は約1080万人。票読みは投票率55%という前提で行なった。宇都宮氏は共産党の基礎票に近い約60万票、田母神氏も約40万票にとどまり、舛添氏は自公の基礎票の目一杯で約230万票、対する細川氏は250万票前後になり舛添氏を逆転するという結果だった」（自民党幹部） Result Tokyo gubernatorial election, 2014 Independent (Supported by Liberal Democratic, Komeito) #288B57 Yoichi Masuzoe 2,112,979 42.86% N/A Independent (Supported by Social Democratic, Communist) #0000CD Kenji Utsunomiya 982,595 19.93% 5.35% Independent (Supported by Democrats, People's Life, and Unity) #BD0000 Morihiro Hosokawa 956,063 19.39% N/A Independent #4B0082 Toshio Tamogami 610,865 12.39% N/A Independent Kazuma Ieiri 88,936 1.8% N/A Independent Yoshiro Nakamatsu 64,774 1.31% 0.64% Smile Party #B51515 Mac Akasaka 15,070 0.31% 0.27% 4,930,251 46.14% 16.46% Kenji Himeji, Masaichi Igarashi, Hiroshi Kaneko, Chikanori Matsuyama, Tomoharu Nakagawa, Hisao Naito, Takashi Negami, Eiichi Sato and Tatsuo Suzuki also appeared on the ballot but won less than 5,000 votes each. 1.24% of votes were invalid.Tokyo Metropolitan electoral commission: 開票結果内訳 https://web.archive.org/web/20140222040030/http://www.senkyo.metro.tokyo.jp/h26chijisokuho/h26chi_kai_022.pdf 2014-02-22 Exit polls by the Asahi Shimbun found that Masuzoe was the most popular candidate in each age segment but had particularly strong support from elderly voters, winning 55% of voters in the 70+ age range versus 36% of voters in their twenties and 38% of voters in their thirties. Tamogami polled strongest among voters in their twenties, gaining 24% of the vote in this age range, but his support among voters in the 60+ age range was in single digits. Hosokawa was second-ranked among voters in their forties, fifties and sixties while Utsunomiya was second-ranked among voters in their thirties and seventies.舛添氏、高齢層から圧倒的な支持 都知事選出口調査分析 http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASG294JLLG29UZPS001.html 10 February 2014 Asahi Shimbun 9 February 2014 Voter turnout was highest in the remote island villages of Mikurajima (80.16%) and Aogashima (75.00%), and lowest in the western suburb of Mizuho (35.61%). Candidates There were sixteen candidates in the race, fifteen of whom ran as independents (Mac Akasaka was the only candidate claiming a party affiliation).東京都知事選挙 立候補者一覧 http://www.h26tochijisen.metro.tokyo.jp/pdf/candidates.pdf 東京都選挙管理委員会 24 January 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140202201140/http://www.h26tochijisen.metro.tokyo.jp/pdf/candidates.pdf 2 February 2014 dead dmy-all Yoichi Masuzoe, former Health and Welfare Minister, entered the race as an independent with the support of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito.http://mainichi.jp/english/english/perspectives/news/20140109p2a00m0na008000c.html Political parties' presence appears weak in Tokyo gubernatorial race (in English) Mainichi Shimbun 9 January 2014 9 January 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140110085805/http://mainichi.jp/english/english/perspectives/news/20140109p2a00m0na008000c.html 10 January 2014 dead dmy-all he also enjoys widespread support within the Democratic Party of Japan舛添氏が都知事選出馬へ 自民、支援へ調整 http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFS0704T_X00C14A1MM8000/ 8 January 2014 日本経済新聞 8 January 2014 and was endorsed by the Tokyo chapter of RENGO.舛添氏と連合東京が協定 都知事選、細川氏は小泉氏側と詰め http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFS2002X_Q4A120C1PP8000/ 21 January 2014 日本経済新聞 21 January 2014 The DPJ considered backing Masuzoe instead of standing their own candidate; the LDP was highly critical of Masuzoe for leaving the LDP in 2010 to start his own party, but backed him "because there was no other candidate that could win". Shigeru Uchida, head of the LDP delegation in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly, had urged the party to avoid endorsing another "celebrity candidate", expressing a preference for a candidate with administrative experience, while Prime Minister and LDP President Shinzō Abe said he emphasized name recognition. Voices within the party supported Masuzoe as a compromise between both considerations. The LDP national executive declared three criteria for adoption as its candidate in the race as: (i) an international outlook; (ii) an ardent supporter of the Tokyo 2020 Games; and iii) capability to have a trustworthy relationship with the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly.LDP outlines criteria for candidate in Tokyo gubernatorial election http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/ldp-outlines-criteria-for-candidate-in-tokyo-gubernatorial-election 4 January 2014 Japan Today 2 January 2014 He was previously a candidate in the 1999 gubernatorial election, where he won over 830,000 votes. Kenji Utsunomiya, an attorney who came in second behind Inose in the 2012 gubernatorial election, was the first person to formally declare his candidacy, and called for providing a check against Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, closing all nuclear plants, restricting spending on the Olympics and making Tokyo "a secure city where people can live and work".Utsunomiya 1st to declare his candidacy for Tokyo governor http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/utsunomiya-1st-to-declare-his-candidacy-for-tokyo-governor 6 January 2014 Japan Today 29 December 2013 After the emergence of Hosokawa's candidacy, former Prime Minister Naoto Kan called on Utsunomiya to leave the race out of fears that he would split the anti-nuclear vote in Tokyo.菅元首相、細川氏にエール「宇都宮氏は当選できない」 http://sankei.jp.msn.com/politics/news/140109/stt14010921410006-n1.htm 13 January 2014 MSN Sankei News 9 January 2014 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140126232346/http://sankei.jp.msn.com/politics/news/140109/stt14010921410006-n1.htm 26 January 2014 Utsunomiya stated that he would like to have an in-depth policy discussion with Hosokawa but would not back down from his campaign.Skepticism voiced over Hosokawa's possible Tokyo candidacy http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0000935648 13 January 2014 The Yomiuri Shimbun 12 January 2014 thumb|Morihiro Hosokawa campaigning from a speaker truck at Takadanobaba Station, February 7 Morihiro Hosokawa, former Prime Minister, decided to run on a platform of eliminating nuclear power in Japan, reducing energy consumption and overhauling the welfare system. Former LDP Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reportedly pressed Hosokawa to run on an anti-nuclear platform,都知事選、「原発争点」に自民警戒 小泉氏カギに 民主は「細川氏が最有力候補」 http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFS0902J_Z00C14A1PP8000/?dg=1 11 January 2014 日本経済新聞 10 January 2014 and stood next to Hosokawa as he announced his candidacy. Although Tokyoites were overwhelmingly in favor of a phase-out of nuclear power,poll data demonstrating that this was true necessary February 2014 Hosokawa's age (76 at the time of the election) and minimal contact with Tokyo, as well as the circumstances surrounding his resignation as prime minister in 1994, were potential clouds to his candidacy.Sieg Linda Koizumi backs Hosokawa for Tokyo governor, targeting Abe's nuclear policy http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/koizumi-backs-hosokawa-for-tokyo-governor-targeting-abes-nuclear-policy 15 January 2014 Thomson Reuters 15 January 2014 Toshio Tamogami, retired General and former Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, entered the race as an independent with the support of former Governor Shintaro Ishihara and several other members of the Japan Restoration Party (although not the party itself.)田母神氏、都知事選出馬を正式表明 元航空幕僚長 http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASDG0703I_X00C14A1CC1000/ 8 January 2014 日本経済新聞 7 January 2014 He was previously approached by the Liberal Democratic Party to run in the 2010 House of Councillors election but turned down their request. His platform calls for strengthening disaster countermeasures in Tokyo through cooperation with the SDF.田母神俊雄氏、都知事選に立候補へ 元航空幕僚長 http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASG1630WMG16UTIL006.html 6 January 2014 朝日新聞 6 January 2014 田母神氏は6日朝、朝日新聞の取材に「東京の防災体制は不十分。自衛隊を組み込み、都民を守りたい」と述べた。 ... 10年夏の参院選では、自民党から比例区候補として打診されたが拒否している。 He is known as a nationalist figure, arguing that Japan was not an aggressor during World War II and supporting official visits to Yasukuni Shrine; his views led to his removal as JASDF Chief of Staff in 2008.Yoshida Reiji Axed nationalist Gen. Tamogami seeks Tokyo governorship http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/06/national/axed-nationalist-gen-tamogami-seeks-tokyo-governorship/#.UsvIM9IW1_0 7 January 2014 Japan Times 6 January 2014 Kazuma Ieiri, founder of several internet start-up companies, announced his candidacy after soliciting 1,000 retweets on Twitter. He proposed an open platform for citizens to decide policy for the Tokyo government.Mochizuki Takashi Twitter Star Seeks Tokyo Votes https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2014/01/30/twitter-star-seeks-tokyo-votes/?mod=WSJBlog 31 January 2014 Wall Street Journal Japan Real Time 30 January 2014 Yoshiro Nakamatsu, a celebrity inventor and perennial candidate popularly known as Dr. NakaMats, entered the race as an independent.ドクター・中松氏、出馬へ 都知事選 http://www.asahi.com/articles/DA3S10914150.html 8 January 2014 朝日新聞 8 January 2014 The 2014 election is his seventh campaign for governor of Tokyo.中松氏ら3人も出馬表明 http://sankei.jp.msn.com/politics/news/140108/elc14010823080005-n1.htm 9 January 2014 MSN Sankei News 8 January 2014 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140123181058/http://sankei.jp.msn.com/politics/news/140108/elc14010823080005-n1.htm 23 January 2014 Mac Akasaka, perennial candidate and leader of the Smile Party, announced he would enter the race after an outpouring of comments on Twitter urging him to run.マック赤坂氏、やっぱり都知事選に立候補表明 スマイル党総裁「引退」撤回 http://www.huffingtonpost.jp/2014/01/17/mac-akasaka-smile_n_4615246.html 20 January 2014 Huffington Post 17 January 2014 He previously ran in the 2012 gubernatorial election.都知事選:マック赤坂氏ら3人が立候補を表明 http://mainichi.jp/select/news/20140118k0000m010104000c.html 20 January 2014 毎日新聞 17 January 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140201214045/http://mainichi.jp/select/news/20140118k0000m010104000c.html 1 February 2014 dead dmy-all Others considered to be candidates The LDP considered a number of candidates prior to endorsing Masuzoe, conducting a private telephone poll in December 2013 which named Masuzoe, former TV comedian and Miyazaki Prefecture governor Hideo Higashikokubaru and LDP legislators Nobuteru Ishihara, Satsuki Katayama, Yuriko Koike and Tamayo Marukawa.東国原氏、舛添氏が人気 自民調査 http://www.nikkansports.com/general/news/p-gn-tp3-20131225-1235684.html 25 December 2013 日刊スポーツ 25 December 2013 23日まで有権者の意向を探る世論調査を行った結果、国会議員に対する支持は低く、党内に擁立論がある舛添要一元厚労相（65）や、党が出馬を警戒する東国原英夫前衆院議員（56）が、一定の支持を集めたことが分かった。 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20131226060226/http://www.nikkansports.com/general/news/p-gn-tp3-20131225-1235684.html 26 December 2013 Higashikokubaru came in second to Masuzoe,都知事選「勝てる候補」は？ 自民、7氏選び世論調査 http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXDASFS2003L_Q3A221C1PP8000/ 24 December 2013 日本経済新聞 21 December 2013 but on January 10 he stated that he had "2,000%" "no scheme, plan, or intention" to run.東国原氏「2000%出ない」 都知事選、記者団に語る http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASG1B3Q9WG1BUTIL00H.html?iref=com_top6_03 10 January 2014 朝日新聞 10 January 2014 報道陣の囲み取材に応じ、「（立候補の）計画も予定もつもりもない。2千%ない」と話した。 Hakubun Shimomura and Seiko Hashimoto were also rumored to be potential LDP candidates, but were excluded from consideration by the party due to existing duties related to the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2014 Winter Olympics respectively. Akira Ikegami, a television journalist, was also included in the LDP poll, but said that he had no interest in running and that he had already agreed to cover the election for the Tokyo MX television station.池上彰氏「あり得ない」打診すでに断る http://www.nikkansports.com/general/news/p-gn-tp3-20131220-1233749.html 24 December 2013 日刊スポーツ 20 December 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140225020126/http://www.nikkansports.com/general/news/p-gn-tp3-20131220-1233749.html 25 February 2014 Hiroshi Sato, former Vice Governor of Tokyo, was approached by LDP lawmakers in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly but declined to run.都知事選、自民が舛添氏と政策協議へ 民主は相乗り探る http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFS07055_X00C14A1PP8000/ 8 January 2014 日本経済新聞 8 January 2014 Saburō Kawabuchi, former head coach of the Japan national football team, was reported in December 2013 to be a compromise candidate between Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and former Governor Shintaro Ishihara, with his athletic background being viewed as an advantage in the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics.都知事選 川淵三郎氏で候補一致か 安倍首相と石原前都知事 http://no-border.asia/archives/17661 8 January 2014 Daily Noborder 19 December 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20140108042942/http://no-border.asia/archives/17661 8 January 2014 dead dmy-all Abe and Ishihara eventually endorsed Masuzoe and Tamogami respectively. The DPJ approached baseball player Atsuya Furuta and journalist Shuntaro Torigoe, both of whom refused to run. Renhō Murata, former State Minister of Government Revitalization, was widely viewed as a likely candidate from the DPJ.「五輪の顔」選び1カ月決戦 都知事選で与野党思惑 http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXNASFS1902T_Z11C13A2EA2000/ 24 December 2013 日本経済新聞 20 December 2013 Antonio Inoki, a professional wrestler and Diet member, was reportedly considering announcing his candidacy. He had been suspended from the Japan Restoration Party following an unauthorized November 2013 visit to North Korea, and was reportedly planning to decide whether to resign from the Diet to run for governor following his return from a second visit to North Korea in January 2014.猪木議員 都知事選出馬あるぞ 本命候補に躍り出る？ http://www.sponichi.co.jp/society/news/2014/01/03/kiji/K20140103007313110.html 6 January 2014 スポーツニッポン 3 January 2014 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140106040346/http://www.sponichi.co.jp/society/news/2014/01/03/kiji/K20140103007313110.html 6 January 2014 Junichirō Koizumi, former Prime Minister and nuclear power critic, declined to run after reportedly being approached by Yoshimi Watanabe of Your Party.Tokyo to elect new governor on Feb 9 http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/tokyo-to-elect-new-governor-on-feb-9 26 December 2013 AFP 26 December 2013 Flamboyant former Prime Minister Junichirō Koizumi has declined to run after minor opposition Your Party asked him, according to the Mainichi daily. Koizumi, who will turn 72 in January, has emerged as a high-profile critic of Japan's nuclear power industry, despite his pro-nuclear record in office. He has urged his one-time protege and the nation's current leader Shinzō Abe to abandon atomic power. Setsuo Yamaguchi, a real estate appraiser and head of a political organization, planned to run on a platform of revising the plans for rebuilding the National Olympic Stadium. This would be his third run for governor of Tokyo, his last appearance being in the 2007 election in which he received 0.06% of the total votes cast. He withdrew from the race on January 8 citing a lack of funds. Shigenobu Yoshida, former Japanese ambassador to Nepal, also briefly entered the race as an independent on a platform of reducing the budget for the Olympics. He previously ran in the 2012 election in which he received 1.23% of the total votes cast. References 30em Category:Tokyo gubernatorial elections Category:2014 elections in Japan Category:February 2014 in Japan Category:2014 in Tokyo