Candidates for the July 7 Tokyo gubernatorial election are tapping digital tools in hopes of boosting awareness of their campaigns and policies.
Yuriko Koike, 71, who is seeking a third term as governor of the capital, posted a video of an artificial intelligence version of herself, aptly named "AI Yuriko," shortly after she announced her candidacy.
AI Yuriko touted Koike's achievements and promoted her policies, in place of the busy incumbent, attracting attention from social media users.
Hoping to portray a relatable image, Renho, 56, a former member of parliament, held live sessions on her social media account in casual clothing, answering questions from viewers.
Shinji Ishimaru, 41, who garnered social media attention during his days as mayor of Akitakata, Hiroshima Prefecture, has been promptly posting photos of his stump speeches on his account on X, while encouraging attendees to speak up.
They are among the 56 people who are vying for the Tokyo governor seat in the upcoming election.
Japan lifted a ban on online campaigning by candidates over 10 years ago. Experts warn that while social media give voters more insight into candidates, there are risks of information bias.
Yoshimi Nakamura, head of Net Communication Research Institute, a think tank that studies politicians' use of social media, said, "Elections now have become a form of entertainment, with people looking for topics that create a buzz."
Some users post inaccurate information in hopes to increase the number of views.
"Voters, too, need to develop information literacy capabilities, which help determine whether certain social media posts are true or whether certain policies are feasible," Nakamura said.