Will Fee

Opinion | What France’s election had that Tokyo’s didn’t

Compared to the display of democratic enthusiasm in France, Tokyo’s gubernatorial race yielded a lacklustre vote in favour of the incumbent

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Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike waves to supporters right before her re-election victory on July 7. Photo: Reuters/Kyodo

Will Fee

Published: 4:30pm, 16 Jul 2024Updated: 7:09pm, 16 Jul 2024

Tactical voting, unity and impassioned pleas from some of the nation’s biggest celebrities helped a left-wing coalition score a surprise win over the far-right in France’s legislative election on July 7. The result is widely being hailed as a victory for French democracy, and a display of unity in the face of creeping extremism.

Nearly 10,000km away in Tokyo, there is no such enthusiasm. The same day, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike secured a third term at the helm of the world’s largest metropolis by population. Instead of the tactical voting seen in France, there was voter apathy in Tokyo.

A record number of candidates – a sizeable portion of them running on less-than-serious policy platforms – reduced the election run-up to a frustrating farce. Many voters simply switched off, with barely over 34 per cent of the eligible electorate turning up at the polling station.

That’s a troubling statistic for both Tokyo and all of Japan. Koike has scored some notable wins during her time in office, a reduction in childcare waiting times being the stand-out. But beyond that, her record is far from stellar. The Tokyo governor has failed to live up to a number of key campaign pledges, while the city’s total fertility rate dropped to its lowest ever mark in 2023. Many blame that on rising living costs during Koike’s tenure.

There has also been criticism of Koike’s relationships with large companies and special interests groups. Her use of taxpayer money to fund an elaborate illumination installation on the front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building, has also raised eyebrows.