As the Liberal Democratic Party scrambled to squelch any finger-pointing over the poor showing of its candidate, Shintaro Ishihara took his first stab Monday at the U.S. following his election to the Tokyo governorship, saying bilateral ties will improve if the U.S. Yokota Air Base is returned or used jointly by both nations.
In a television interview the morning after emerging victorious over 18 other candidates in Sunday's gubernatorial race, Ishihara, 66, said he favors the idea because the capital does not have a full-fledged international airport. "Japan-U.S. relations will become much better" after the Yokota base question is resolved, Ishihara said. Part of his campaign platform was a vow to seek the base's return to Japan.
"I like America," Ishihara said on TV Monday, scoffing at the widely held view that he harbors anti-American sentiment, partly because of his 1989 book, "The Japan That Can Say No," which he coauthored with then Sony Chairman Akio Morita.