Mr. Takashi Kawamura, a former Democratic Party of Japan member of the Lower House who gave up his seat to run in Sunday's Nagoya mayoral election, trounced a candidate supported by the prefectural chapters of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito.
DPJ leaders, who supported Mr. Kawamura's candidacy, believe the victory will have a favorable impact on DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa's decision to stay on as party head, but a close look at the election suggests that it only gives the DPJ and Mr. Ozawa a brief respite from a political donations scandal involving his chief aide. Various polls reveal that a majority of people are critical of his decision to continue as DPJ leader.
During his campaign Mr. Kawamura called for a 10-percent cut in municipal taxes and the Nagoya city government's personnel expenses. This campaign promise alienated some DPJ city assembly members, the All-Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union and the Aichi chapter of the Japan Trade Union Confederation. The latter two are important supporters of the DPJ.