Candidates in the Tokyo gubernatorial election made their final push Saturday on the eve of voting, trying to reach out to voters on a day in which the capital experienced the heaviest snowfall in 20 years.
The main contenders in Sunday's election include former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa, 76, former health minister Yoichi Masuzoe, 65, former Air Self-Defense Force chief Toshio Tamogami, 65, and Kenji Utsunomiya, 67, the former head of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
The new governor will be tasked with preparing Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics as well as the possibility of a major earthquake, which some academics predict could occur within the next 30 years. He will also be facing challenges such as the aging of society and the low birthrate.