Tokyo Electorate Criticizes Japan’s Ruling Party Ahead of National Elections
Recent election results indicate that voters in Tokyo have removed Japan’s ruling party from its position as the leading faction within the city assembly, as reported on Monday.
This shift is seen as a troubling sign for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s widely disapproved administration, with national elections set for July.
Japanese media outlets conveyed that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) experienced its lowest electoral performance in this significant local election, despite having maintained power almost uninterrupted since 1955.
Since taking office in October, Ishiba’s public approval ratings have significantly declined, primarily due to rising inflation, particularly with rice prices doubling over the past year.
In the recent election held on Sunday, the LDP managed to secure 21 seats in the Tokyo assembly. This total includes three seats won by candidates previously linked to the party but not officially endorsed following a political funding scandal.
This outcome represents a decrease from their prior low of 23 seats recorded in 2017, as emphasized by both Asahi Shimbun and other regional media sources.
Ishiba described these electoral results as a “very harsh judgment.” He told reporters on Monday, “We will analyze which elements of our campaign commitments did not connect with voters and ensure we learn from this experience.”
The Tomin First no Kai party, founded by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, increased its presence in the 127-member assembly to 31 seats, positioning itself as the leading party.
Shinji Inoue, leader of the LDP’s Tokyo chapter, admitted on Sunday that the funding scandal “may have had an impact” on these results. He acknowledged that policies intended to tackle inflation “did not effectively resonate with voters,” especially since opposition parties also pledged solutions to this issue.
Concerns Over Cost of Living
Ishiba is facing upcoming elections for parliament’s upper house within weeks; reports indicate that national voting might take place on July 20.
Public dissatisfaction linked to escalating living costs and political scandals contributed to Ishiba’s LDP and its junior coalition partner losing their majority in the powerful lower house during October’s elections—marking their poorest general election performance in 15 years.
While recent polls showed a minor uptick in support—partly due to initiatives addressing high rice prices—various factors contribute to ongoing rice shortages in Japanese stores. These include an exceptionally hot and dry summer two years ago that negatively impacted nationwide harvests and panic-buying prompted by earthquake warnings last year.
Experts assert that some traders are stockpiling rice in anticipation of future price increases. Excluding volatile fresh food items, consumer goods and energy prices rose by 3.7 percent compared to May of last year.
To assist households grappling with rising living expenses, Ishiba has pledged cash handouts of 20,000 yen ($139) per citizen prior to the upper house elections.
‘Severe’ Outcomes
Masahisa Endo, a political science professor at Waseda University, characterized the outcomes from Tokyo’s assembly vote as “severe” for the ruling party. He noted that while Tokyo has never been a stronghold for the LDP, there are signs suggesting weakening support across Japan.
Even if Ishiba does not manage to secure an upper-house majority, it remains uncertain who could potentially succeed him given that Japan’s opposition parties are too fragmented to pose a significant challenge against LDP dominance. The opposition Democratic Party For The People (DPP) achieved notable success during this electoral cycle by winning nine seats in Tokyo’s assembly. Their campaign proposals for July include sales tax reductions aimed at boosting household incomes.
Voter turnout on Sunday was reported at 47.6 percent—a considerable rise from 42.4 percent four years ago according to local sources.
A record number of 295 candidates contested—the highest figure since 1997—with women candidates also reaching an unprecedented level at 99. The number of female assembly members increased from 41 to 45 based on election outcomes.
