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Feb. 27, 1999
Tokyo Governatorial Election

"If Tokyo changes, other cities in Japan will change." someone said. Of course, Tokyo is a capital of Japan, and many people have left for the big city, being fascinated with Tokyo, which we have thought has much potentiality to make us successful. We have been lured by such an idea as you should go up for Tokyo if you want to go forward a success-road in your life.

In fact, Tokyo has been a center of business, politics, academics, fashion, and so forth. It must be very simulative and exciting for them, because Tokyo must be full of brains.

Taking an example for the governatorial election in Tokyo in coming April, six figures have already declared that they would be a candidate. It is more than a month just before the election, but people are likely to show more interest than those in Aichi.

Each of candidates is, what we call, a celebrity in the specific field, which may make them more concerned.

Hatoyama Kunio, who is a former vice representative of Democratic Party, is called a thoroughbred in the political world. He is one of the third generations of pariaments in his families, so his celebrity must be sure.

Masuzoe Yoichi, who used to be an assistant professor of Tokyo University, is now well known as a scholar of international policy, and he has been very concerned about welfare pollicy as well, since he began to take care of his own mother who is suffering from senility.

Kakizawa Koji, who used to be a foreign minister, has been a parliament although he has changed the joining party a few times and now he is stick to Leberal Democratic Party. He is said to have a lot of expertize as a real politician.

Akashi Yasushi, who used to work for the United Nations for years, is now a chief of Peace Institution in Hiroshima. He is sure to have an international sense to take a leadership as a global standard.

Nozue Chinpei, who was a pariament of Upper House, is very popular among business men, because he is very concerned about tax system and supportive to them.

Mikami Man, who used to be a junior high school teacher and become a model of a character in the movie 'Education will never die.', becaus his way of teaching and his life s a teacher was enthusiastic and ideal.

Besides for these six candidates, Ishihara Shintaro is supposed to run.

We can expect the campaign will be very competitive with those runners. But we must keep in mind that election should be popularity-voting ot mindful only of party interests and tactics. According to an analist, there is much concern but no one has decesive points at present.

In this sense, every candidate should show us the details of his policy which is easy enough to understand and we voters have review which is the best policy to improve our society for the future. We have to make the most of the right to vote for the democracy.

Question 1: Are you fascinated with Tokyo? Why?, Why not?

Question 2: Is anything that happens or is done in Tokyo so influential in the local ?

Question 3: Is it meaningful to abstain from voting ?

Question 4: Anything about this topic

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