TOKYO. As Tokyo gears up to elect a new governor this weekend, the usual political campaigning has taken an unprecedented turn. Personal publicity stunts have overshadowed serious campaigns, featuring nearly nude women in suggestive poses, pets, an AI character, and even a man practicing his golf swing.
With internet campaigning still in its infancy, candidates traditionally rely on more than 14,000 designated election billboards for exposure during the short campaign season. However, this year’s antics have raised eyebrows and sparked outrage among residents.
“They are distasteful. As a Japanese citizen, I feel embarrassed, seeing many foreign visitors pass by those billboards and wonder what’s going on,” said Mayumi Noda, an office worker. “As a voter, I think it’s outrageous and disrespectful to the other candidates seriously competing.”
A record 56 candidates, including incumbent Gov. Yuriko Koike, who seeks her third four-year term, are running in Sunday’s election. Many of the candidates are fringe figures or influencers seeking even more exposure.
Tokyo, home to 13.5 million people, holds significant political and cultural influence in Japan. Its budget rivals that of some nations, and its policies impact the national government.
As official campaigning began on June 20, residents were met with a stunning array of posters. For some, it’s unclear whether the individuals behind them are genuine candidates or simply seeking attention.
One billboard featured racy posters for an adult entertainment shop. Another displayed an almost naked female model in a suggestive pose with a message stating, “Stop restricting free speech.” Others showed photos of a pet dog or a female kickboxer. One candidate, dubbed AI Mayor, used an image of a metallic humanoid.
Campaign video clips have also drawn criticism. Female candidate Airi Uchino, in one video, said, “I’m so cute; please watch my campaign broadcast,” in a high-pitched, anime-style voice while asking voters to be friends on social media. She then stripped down to a beige-colored tube top. In another video, a male candidate from the “golf party” discussed his policies while practicing his golf swing.
Under Japan’s 1950 public office election law, candidates are free to say anything as long as they do not support another candidate or disseminate false or libelous content.
This year’s bizarre campaign tactics are partly attributed to an emerging conservative political party fielding 24 candidates for governor. Since each of Tokyo’s election billboards has 48 squares for candidates to paste their posters, the party is renting out half the slots to anyone who pays, including non-candidates. This approach, though unregulated, has raised concerns.
The rental cost starts at 25,000 yen (about $155) per location per day, said party leader Takashi Tachibana. “We have to be wacky or we don’t get media attention,” Tachibana said in a YouTube comment posted on the party website.
“The point is to make immoral and outrageous actions … to get attention,” said Ryosuke Nishida, a Nihon University professor and expert in politics and media. “The reason why some people find these performances amusing is because they think their objections are not taken into consideration by politicians and existing parties or reflected in their politics.”
At a park near Tokyo’s busy Shimbashi train station, passersby glanced at a campaign billboard half-filled with dog posters. “I don’t decide who to vote for by looking at the faces on their posters,” said Kunihiko Imada, a plumber. “But I still think these billboards are being misused.”
As Tokyo heads to the polls, the unconventional campaign strategies have certainly left a mark on the city’s political landscape.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
