Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike’s ultimate goal is to become the first female prime minister.

Possibility of ‘The Great Game’

But the hurdles to a return to national politics continue to rise.’ Even after leaving the LDP after the Tokyo gubernatorial election in 2004, he remained in touch with former secretary-general Toshihiro Nikai, 85, with whom he had worked in the Shinshinshin and Conservative parties. However, now that Mr. Nikai has announced his retirement at the end of his term, there are no new backers in sight, whether from the ruling or opposition parties. Journalist Tetsuo Suzuki explains.

It is said that he had a series of meetings with Kōichi Hagiuda, 60, chairman of the LDP’s Tokyo Metropolitan Federation, but it is doubtful that he would be able to gather 20 nominees for the presidential election if he were to return to the party now. Rather, she may choose to serve as governor of Tokyo, a position with a budget and authority comparable to that of the national government, while also achieving prime ministerial-level results. The crux of her policy is that Tokyo was the first to do what the national government could not do. A typical example is her reference to building shelters and having Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (66) follow suit.”

However, there is a persistent voice in Nagata-cho that says it is doubtful that Koike will abandon the biggest ambition of her migratory life at this stage. Political journalist Koichi Kakutani said.

Koichi Kakutani, a political journalist, said, “Because of her personality, I don’t think she will spend the rest of her life as governor of Tokyo. This is even more so when Yoko Kamikawa, 71, minister of foreign affairs, and Sanae Takaichi, 63, minister of cabinet office in charge of special missions, are said to be the first female candidates for prime minister. The late former Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara abruptly resigned in the middle of his fourth term. He returned to national politics and formed a new party.

What lies at the root of Koike’s lust for power? Nonfiction writer Taeko Ishii explains.

“Because he continues to hold power, he is able to contain the issue of academic fraud. However, once he loses his power and is no longer of any use to the public, what will happen to him? Koike herself knows that better than anyone else. I think he believes that he must continue to hold power in order to prevent those close to him from turning on him.

As he enters his third term, will the governor of Tokyo finish up his administration as he has declared, or will he take on one last great battle?

From the July 26/August 2, 2024 issue of FRIDAY