The April 8 Tokyo gubernatorial race entered a new stage Thursday as the two leading contenders unveiled their election platforms centered on public safety and the environment.
Incumbent Shintaro Ishihara, seeking a third term, told reporters he will focus on making "the world's safest capital" and an environment-friendly one as well if he gets re-elected.
Ishihara's platform, which he calls his "manifesto," carries the slogan "Re-Boot! Tokyo." He is pledging to improve the capital's antidisaster policies, to consider cooperating with Kanto-region governors to create a broader regional government and to further internationalization efforts and cultural interchanges by hosting the 2016 Olympics.