Populist outsider wins Osaka mayor election

[Bonobo]

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/99531fb8-1912-11e1-92d8-00144feabdc0.html

Populist reformers triumphed in mayoral and gubernatorial elections in Japan’s western port city of Osaka, a result that reflects deep dissatisfaction with national politics and will fuel a drive for administrative reform in the industrial powerhouse.

Toru Hashimoto, a lawyer and former TV personality, won as Osaka’s mayor even though his incumbent opponent had been backed by local arms of both Japan’s ruling Democratic party and the Liberal Democratic party, the biggest opposition group.

The blunt-spoken Mr Hashimoto had stepped down as the governor of Osaka prefecture, which has an economy bigger than Switzerland’s and is home to multinational manufacturers such as Panasonic, in order to force a double mayoral and gubernatorial election.

Ichiro Matsui, a member of Mr Hashimoto’s locally based political party, won as Osaka governor in Sunday’s voting, Japanese media said. Jiji news agency said the “total victory” for the reformists marked a “major blow to the established parties”.

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He is just in his mid-40's and voter turnout was a huge record-breaker at 61%!!!