2009 Tokyo prefectural election

Results

Polls closed at 8:00 pm Japan Standard Time. Turnout was significantly up from 2005 and stood at 54.5 percent. The DPJ picked up 20 seats and saw 54 of their 58 candidates elected. The LDP lost its status as strongest party in the Metropolitan Assembly for the first time since 1965. Despite strong results for coalition partner Kōmeitō, the ruling camp could not defend an absolute majority (64 seats). The only electoral district where an LDP candidate received the most votes (top tōsen) was the single-member [Izu and Ogasawara] islands electoral district of former assembly president Chūichi Kawashima, a native of Ōshima town who had represented the islands since 1985.

|- ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:left;" |Parties ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:left;" |Candidates ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |Votes ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |% ! style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;" |Seats

Aftermath

The president of the LDP's Tokyo prefectural federation, one of governor Ishihara's then two sons in the national House of Representatives, Nobuteru, initially hinted to step down as LDP Tokyo chief, but eventually stayed on. Nationally, Tarō Asō came under pressure within his party to resign immediately as party president-prime minister, but could avoid a leadership challenge by calling the general election of the House of Representatives early – the election on August 30 resulted in a landslide loss for the ruling coalition.

Democrat Ryō Tanaka from Suginami was elected assembly president, Kantarō Suzuki (Kōmeitō, Arakawa) became vice president. The assembly majority in the new assembly is often involved in disputes with governor Ishihara over the budget, the Tsukiji relocation and other issues. Yet, in the gubernatorial election of 2011 (part of the unified regional election), Ishihara was safely reelected for a fourth term.

References

References

1. (June 28, 2009). "Aso leaning toward early August election. LDP executives may also be reshuffled to boost poll numbers". [[The Japan Times]].
2. TMG Electoral Commission: [http://www.senkyo.metro.tokyo.jp/schedule/schedule_h21.html#to Tokyo election schedule] {{Webarchive. link. (2009-07-09 {{in lang). ja
3. TMG Electoral Commission: [http://www.senkyo.metro.tokyo.jp/h21togisen/h21togisen-keikakugaiyou.html 平成21年執行東京都議会議員選挙執行計画の概要] {{Webarchive. link. (2009-07-14)
4. (July 4, 2009). "Tokyo poll campaign starts / 'Ishihara ruling bloc,' DPJ battling for majority in assembly". [[The Daily Yomiuri]].
5. (July 3, 2009). "Campaigning kicks off for Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election". [[Mainichi Daily News]].
6. Mariko Katō. (July 1, 2009). "Key gripes converge in Tokyo poll. Opposition hits Tsukiji move, Olympics, Shinginko". [[The Japan Times]].
7. (June 16, 2009). "都議選でも注目、どうなる世襲への審判". [[Yomiuri Shimbun]].
8. NHK: [http://www3.nhk.or.jp/togisen/ NHK 都議選 開票速報] {{Webarchive. link. (2009-07-14)
9. Yomiuri Shimbun: [http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/feature/20090608-145088/index.htm 特集>東京都議選2009]
10. Asahi Shimbun: [http://www.asahi.com/special/togisen2009/ 特集 東京都議選2009]
11. Jiji Press, July 12, 2009: [http://www.jiji.com/jc/v2?id=20090712_asou.ministry_22 民主得票率、16ポイント増]
12. The Japan Times, July 15, 2009: [http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20090715a1.html Aso attacked on all fronts. LDP feuds; opposition smells blood]
13. The Japan Times, July 17, 2009: [http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20090717a1.html Aso foes unlikely to block dissolution. Petition by third of LDP seeking ouster appears destined to fail]
14. The Japan Times, July 14, 2009: [http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20090714a3.html Ishihara must face the opposition. Shinginko, other projects now in doubt]
15. The Economist, October 28, 2010: [https://www.economist.com/asia/2010/10/28/fish-fight Fish fight. Tokyo's governor is starting to look like yesterday's sushi]
16. The Japan Times, October 23, 2010: [http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20101023a1.html Tsukiji to relocate to Toyosu: Ishihara. DPJ ranks vow to block budget for shift to toxic site]