Former Japanese defense
minister Yuriko Koike has been elected as the Japanese capital’s first woman
governor, exit polls project. Public broadcaster NHK and other media forecast
Ms Koike as the winner after polls closed at 20:00 (11:00 GMT).
If confirmed, one of her
key challenges will be curbing the financial problems plaguing Tokyo’s
preparations to host the 2020 Olympic Games.
Scandals linked to the
Games forced the last two governors to resign.
“I will lead Tokyo
politics in an unprecedented manner, a Tokyo you have never seen,” Ms Koike,
64, told cheering supporters.
In all, 21 contenders
were vying to lead the sprawling capital and a number of other cities in the
prefecture.
Ms Koike, politician
Hiroya Masuda and journalist Shuntaro Torigoe were the front-runners.
Sunday’s election was
called after previous governor Yoichi Masuzoe resigned last month following
fierce criticism over allegations that he used official funds to pay for
holidays, art and comic books for his children.
Mr Masuzoe, who won
election promising a scandal-free administration, denied breaking the law, but
admitted to ethical lapses around his spending.
His predecessor, Naoki
Inose also quit over a funding scandal in 2013, soon after Tokyo won the right
to host the Olympics.
Since then Tokyo’s
preparations for the 2020 Summer Olympics have been hit by scandals,
overspending, administrative fumbles and construction delays.
One of the new
governor’s first duties will be to travel to Rio at the end of the 2016
Olympics in August to accept the Olympic flag as the next host.
Sunday's election was
called after previous governor Yoichi Masuzoe resigned last month following
fierce criticism over allegations that he used official funds to pay for
holidays, art and comic books for his children.
Mr Masuzoe, who won
election promising a scandal-free administration, denied breaking the law, but
admitted to ethical lapses around his spending.
His predecessor, Naoki
Inose, also quit over a funding scandal in 2013 soon after Tokyo won the right
to host the Olympics.
Since then Tokyo's
preparations for the 2020 Summer Olympics have been hit by scandals, overspending, administrative fumbles and construction delays.
Profile: Yuriko Koike
Left university in
Japan to study in Egypt in the 1970s, where she later earned a degree in
sociology from Cairo University. Ms Koike speaks fluent Arabic.
A former television
news anchor, she first entered politics in 1992.
Served as environment
minister in 2003, and defence minister under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's
government in 2007
Had an unsuccessful run
for the national Liberal Democratic Party leadership
Was seen as the most
right-leaning of the three leading candidates for the Tokyo governorship
Has vowed to pursue
policies that will promote better conditions for women
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