Confident speeches and bold accusations flew Thursday as the campaign to elect the next Tokyo governor got under way, with national attention focused on whether the powerful incumbent, Shintaro Ishihara, can overcome scandal to win a third four-year term.
A colorful mix of 14 candidates officially signed up to run against the outspoken 74-year-old nationalist the same day -- up from five candidates four years ago. Most are running as independents.
"(The election) is becoming a close contest, which was unexpected," said Ishihara, a feisty independent who unofficially enjoys support from the Liberal Democratic Party. "But please look at what I have achieved."