More than 270 candidates to run in Tokyo assembly election
Over 270 people are expected to run in the June 22 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election as of Wednesday, likely hitting the highest number in decades.
The focus of the election will be whether the Liberal Democratic Party can remain the biggest force in the 127-seat assembly or whether Tomin First no Kai will take back the top slot.
As many parties consider the poll a precursor to this summer's election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, they treat the Tokyo race like a national election.
The LDP, which holds 30 seats in the Tokyo assembly, will put up 42 candidates. In addition, six former and current assembly members involved in the LDP's political funds scandals plan to run as non-LDP candidates.
In the 2017 poll, the LDP gained 23 seats, its all-time low in a Tokyo assembly election. Some expect that the LDP to struggle this time again due to a public backlash over the money scandals and weak public support for the national administration of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the LDP's president.
Komeito, which has 23 seats, hopes to field 22 candidates, aiming to win seats for all of its candidates for the ninth consecutive time.
Tomin First, with 26, seats has announced plans to set up 37 candidates.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike serves as special adviser for the regional party. Recently, Koike has been advertising her ties with the party by appearing in its YouTube videos and attending a meeting of prospective election candidates.
Asked about her possible involvement in next month's election, Koike told a news conference Friday, "I'll support candidates who would propel (the Tokyo government) forward under (my vision of) 'Grand Reform of Tokyo.'"
The Japanese Communist Party, which has 19 seats, will put up 24 candidates, and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan with 12 seats will endorse 21 individuals.
Nippon Ishin no Kai plans to field six candidates, while a regional party called Tokyo Seikatsusha Network will have three. Both hold one seat.
Another key point is how the Democratic Party for the People and other parties without any presence in the assembly will fare in the race.
The DPP plans to field 18 candidates. A senior official from its Tokyo branch says that the party aims to secure 11 seats, which would enable the it to submit draft ordinances single-handedly.
Reiwa Shinsengumi plans to put up three candidates, Sanseito four, and the Social Democratic Party one.
The Path to Rebirth plans to field 42 candidates. The regional party was established this year by Shinji Ishimaru, who finished runner-up in last year's Tokyo gubernatorial race behind Koike.
Over 50 other people have also voiced plans to run in the assembly election.
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