The apparently overwhelming popularity of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will be put to its first real test in less than 10 days, when the results of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election — campaigning for which began Friday — are announced June 24. And in spite of his popularity, those involved in the vote say it is unlikely the Koizumi phenomena will give Liberal Democratic Party candidates a landslide victory.
The contest, in which one in 10 Japanese voters is eligible to cast a ballot, traditionally mirrors the national political situation, with its results indicating political parties' electoral fortunes in the ensuing national election.
While pleased with the popularity of posters featuring Koizumi, who is also president of the party, LDP candidate Yukuo Hattori admitted, "No, I don't think it will directly lead to me winning more votes."