The former president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, Kenji Utsunomiya, has formally expressed his intention to run as governor of Tokyo. His main political platform is to abolish nuclear power in the country, beginning with Tokyo.
During a news conference in a Lower House building, where he was backed up by citizens’ groups who are also against nuclear power, Utsonomiya said that he is willing to work with other municipalities so that they can pressure the central government to finally and fully abolish nuclear power. He is also working to provide support to the victims of the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, like providing housing for them in Tokyo. He also said that since Tokyo is the biggest consumer of electricity in Japan and is the biggest shareholder in Tokyo Electric Power Co, it is their responsibility to help and support the victims of the nuclear disaster.
Utsonomiya, a native of Ehime, was the head of the JFBA for two years and was also honorary mayor of a temporary village established in Tokyo’s Hibiya Park for jobless temp workers back in 2008. He has made it his life’s mission to fight poverty and has also vowed to expand employment opportunities for the lower classes and improve their welfare and medical care.
His opponents for the position might be former Kanagawa Gov. Shigefumi Matsuzawa (who already announced) and former governor of Miyazaki Hideo Higashikokubaru (rumoured but not yet official). The campaign period begins on November 29 and the election is set for December 16.