A record seven candidates are expected to run in the Nov. 17 gubernatorial election in Hyogo Prefecture, following the ouster of former Gov. Motohiko Saito, 46, over alleged power harassment and other problematic behavior.
Among the seven is Saito himself, who is seeking to return to office to "continue reforms." He is giving stump speeches on a daily basis, emphasizing his achievements during his tenure and readiness for work while apologizing for the scandal.
In September, the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly unanimously passed a no-confidence motion against Saito, who automatically lost his job later. The official campaign period for the upcoming gubernatorial election will begin on Oct. 31.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.