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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 May 2025
The election campaign for the Tokyo metropolitan government (TMG) does not begin, officially, until January 23, with the voting scheduled for February 9. But there is already an enormous amount of spin in the Japanese press and social media, as well as in the lamentably meagre coverage offered by English-language media and bloggers. I won't pretend to be objective about the election and assessing the associated reporting and commentary. Like 455 of Japan's 1789 local governments, I personally think Japan should get out of nuclear power, or at the very least reform its power markets-separating generation from transmission-before undertaking any restarts. Japan's best option is green and smart growth, and it is incredible to watch a TMG campaign unfold focused on that opportunity.
1 On this, see (in Japanese) “455 Local Councils Have Passed “Get Out of Nuclear Power” Position Statements Since [Fukushima] Nuclear Accident,” Asahi Shimbun, January 19, 2014.
2 The abuse, according to Katayama herself, and in several interviews, included verbal abuse, throwing objects, and waving a survival knife in her face. Other allegations suggest that Masuzoe has fathered at least two children out of wedlock. Considering the background of domestic violence and other abuses of women in Japan, it makes for unpleasant reading. See (in Japanese) “Masuzoe Youichi's unique appeal as a male: thrice wed and with 5 children,” Social News Network, January 15, 2014.
3 On TMG Governor Inose's money scandal and resignation, see “Tokyo Gov. Inose announces resignation over money scandal,” Mainichi Shimbun, December 19, 2013.
4 Indeed, Abe's commitment to economic reform per se is in question. On this, see leading Japan specialist Aurelia George Mulgan, “Abe puts personal interests ahead of Japan's at Yasukuni,” East Asia Forum, January 1, 2014.
5 Perhaps the best analysis of the political economy of the structure of restarts is offered (in Japanese) by Keio University's Kaneko Masaru “Nuclear Costs More than Conventional Thermal Power,” Iwanami Shoten booklet, August 3, 2013.
6 On Koizumi's appeals, see Andrew DeWit “Just Gas? Smart Power and Koizumi's Anti-Nuclear Challenge,” The Asia-Pacific Journal, Volume II, Issue 50, No.3, December 16, 2013.
7 See Sandra I Erwin,”Renewable Energy Boom Underway at US Military Bases,” National Defense, January 16, 2014.
8 See the overview article and download link at “Power Surge: Energy Security and the Department of Defense,” Pew Charitable Trusts Environmental Initiatives, January 16: 2014.
9 See Tomas Kåberger, “Smart alternatives for Japan,” Japan Renewable Energy Foundation, January 17, 2014.
10 That this is a duo's performance is clear from the Hosokawa campaign site advertising the official press conference of January 22. The site features both Hosokawa and Koizumi: tokyo-tonosama.com (the name of the site -”feudal lord” - is also a dig at one of the insults hurled at Hosokawa by the Abe cabinet's Economy Minister, an insult taken up by Jonathan Soble in “Tokyo election race to spark nuclear debate,” Financial Times, January 10, 2014.
11 The core of the mainstream media spin machine is the Yomiuri Shimbun, whose editor is one of the fathers of nuclear power in Japan. One example of its reliably tendentious reporting on this election is “Is Hosokawa Serious about his call for Tokyo to decline hosting the Olympics,” Yomiuri Shimbun, January 18, 2014.
12 On the scale of the crisis and criticisms, see Andrew DeWit and Christopher Hobson, Abe at Ground Zero: the consequences of inaction at Fukushima Daiichi, The Asia-Pacific Journal, Volume 11, Issue 35, No. 1, September 2, 2013.
13 See Reiji Yoshida, “Tepco tech chief disputes Abe's ‘under control’ assertion,” Japan Times, September 13, 2013.
14 On this, see (in Japanese) “Hosokawa quickly gets into a mess: press conference put off twice, and no appearance at debate, suggesting campaign office confusion,” ZakZak, January 17, 2014.
15 Masuzoe makes his support for nuclear power clear (in Japanese, and from the 20:00 minute mark) in this December 11, 2013 radio interview with Otake Makoto Golden Radio.
16 Perhaps the best analysis of the law - now passed - is Lawrence Repeta, “A New State Secrecy Law for Japan?” The Asia-Pacific Journal, Vol. 11, Issue 42, No. 1, October 21, 2013.
17 A cogent summary of the challenges presented by Abe's visit and its implications is seen in East Asia Forum Editor Peter Drysdale's “What to make of Mr Abe and his visit to Yasukuni,” East Asia Forum, December 30, 2013.
18 See “Hosokawa's Tokyo bid could affect Japan-China ties,” The Japan News by the Yomiuri Shimbun, January 18, 2014.
19 On Hashimoto's “self-destruction” over the comfort women issue, see Michael Cucek, “A Rising Star's Self-Destruction,” New York Times, May 30, 2013.
20 See for example, astute observer Eric Johnston's “Ishin's Ōsaka wing hopes Tamogami loses in Tokyo,” Japan Times, January 18, 2014.
21 See (in Japanese) “Kobayashi Yoshinori announces support for the “Hosokawa-Koizumi Coalition,” Amebanyuusu, January 15, 2014.
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