Mayor Yuriko Koike - 'Iron Rose' of Japanese politics

Breaking the invisible barrier

Ever since former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton twice missed out on the US presidency, in 2008 and 2016, many Americans have believed that the “glass ceiling” is real. This is a phrase that Hillary used to refer to the invisible barrier for women in reaching the highest power. However, in Japan, this barrier is not “glass” but “iron plate” that is even harder to break - in the words of Ms. Yuriko Koike.

Ms. Yuriko Koike, the first female governor of Tokyo, has just been re-elected for another term. Photo: AFP

As Tokyo’s first female governor, Ms. Koike understands this theory better than anyone else, as male politicians are still more dominant in Japanese politics. However, she is gradually breaking down those invisible barriers. Her resounding victory in the recent Tokyo election once again strengthened the Japanese public’s trust in this shrewd female politician.

Calm, measured speeches and catchy slogans have become the hallmark of Governor Yuriko Koike. Although Tokyo was forced to postpone the Summer Olympics, which were supposed to take place this July, causing tens of billions of dollars in damage, that has not caused Ms. Koike any trouble in her career. Her success in containing the Covid-19 epidemic has helped her “score” points in the eyes of the public.

While the Covid-19 infection rate in the US and many European countries is at an alarming level, Japan, with a population of 126 million, has only had more than 20,000 cases. Most notably, Tokyo - Japan's most dynamic city - has controlled the epidemic quite well. Therefore, voters in this city continue to put their trust in Ms. Koike's cautious approach. According to a poll, Ms. Koibe received more than 70% support for the fight against Covid-19, while the rate for incumbent Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was just over 40%. In her speech after her resounding victory, the Tokyo governor announced that she would prioritize measures to prevent the virus and protect the megacity with 14 million people and an economy worth 1 trillion USD.

Ms. Yuriko Koike won a resounding victory with more than 3.66 million votes in the election on July 5. Photo: Reuters

Yuriko Koike also made a strong impression with her pledge to make Tokyo a place where “women and children shine.” This is seen as a message of female empowerment that the female politician has pursued since she ran for Tokyo mayor in 2016. At that time, Ms. Koike surprised everyone by leaving the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and forming a separate party called Independence. Her party, which includes many female members, overwhelmed the LDP in the city assembly.

Experts say that in Japan’s deeply conservative political landscape and weak opposition parties, it is difficult for female politicians to rise to prominence. “However, Ms. Koike is the first female conservative politician to prove that a woman can rise to the top without the full support of a party. That is why she is truly special,” said Ki-young Shin, a professor of gender studies at Ochanomizu University.

An inspirational person

For many voters in the Land of the Rising Sun, Ms. Koike is always considered an inspirational person not only because she dares to face the most difficult and different things, but also because she is a special person.

Born in 1952 in remote Hyogo Prefecture, Koike attended Kwansei Gakuin University but dropped out to study Arabic in Cairo, Egypt, and later earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Cairo University. After a career as a translator and then a television announcer, she entered politics in the mid-1990s, when Japan was in the throes of chronic political unrest.

Ms. Yuriko Koike in the ranks of politicians in Japan. Photo: AP

In 1992, she first won a seat in the upper house before moving to the lower house the following year. She joined the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in 2002 and became environment minister in 2003. According to the Japanese press, Ms. Koike was very popular with former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. In the 2005 general election, she was named one of Mr. Koizumi's "assassins" after defeating a strong opponent of his in the early stages.

In 2007, Shinzo Abe became Prime Minister, Koike served as a special advisor before becoming Japan's first female defense minister - a position traditionally reserved for men. In 2008, she ran for the LDP presidency with the goal of becoming Prime Minister but lost to Taro Aso. Eight years later, in the Tokyo mayoral election, she won a landslide victory with more than 2.9 million votes, far surpassing Hiroya Masuda, who came in second with only 1.9 million votes. Notably, Masuda was backed by Prime Minister Abe.

Fluent in English and Arabic, Koike is a rare internationalist in Japan’s inward-looking politics. Ideologically, she is considered a “hawk” because of her strong views on issues such as constitutional revision and the role of the Self-Defense Forces. Like Prime Minister Abe, Koike’s vision is for a more assertive Japan that relies less, or not at all, on the US “security umbrella.”

Tokyo's female governor becomes an inspiration in the eyes of many voters. Photo: Getty

According to many observers, Ms. Koike's outstanding advantage is her ability to communicate effectively with the media. This is reflected in the messages she delivered when facing the fight against Covid-19. She did not make a clear choice between health and the economy, instead she showed empathy for Tokyo residents but was also decisive in the face of the crisis. This helped her receive 3.66 million votes, more than the election 4 years ago. This is rare in Japanese politics. Because before Ms. Koike, Tokyo had to go through 3 mayors in just 5 years and all of them could not sit in the seat for the full 4 years of the term.

As a politician with many unique characteristics, Ms. Koike is believed by voters to “lead Tokyo politics in an unprecedented way”. Furthermore, many experts predict that the recent victory will also pave the way for Ms. Koike in the race for the Japanese Prime Minister in September next year if her party can defeat the ruling LDP.