Popular Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, a rumoured candidate in upcoming parliamentary elections, says she wants to push the national government to speed up changes needed in Japan by starting them in her city.
Koike, who became Tokyo’s first female leader last year and led her local party to a stunning victory in July city elections, has launched a new national party, the Party of Hope, to challenge Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the October 22 parliamentary vote.
Koike told Associated Press she wants to use her experience in Tokyo to encourage changes nationally, and is working with like-minded politicians to push for her goals.
She says women’s advancement and measures for Japan’s ageing and shrinking population have come too slowly under Abe.
“As Tokyo governor, I want to achieve policies in Tokyo as a model for entire Japan to follow. Why? Because it’s faster that way,” Koike said. “Everything takes too long in national politics.”