The race for the July 13 Shiga gubernatorial election will kick off Thursday with three candidates vying to replace Yukiko Kada, with the campaign expected to focus on public works spending and how to cope with nuclear reactors in neighboring Fukui Prefecture.
One candidate is Takashi Koyari, 47, a former adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet. He has the support of the LDP, New Komeito, the prefectural chapter of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party), some local Your Party members and senior business leaders, especially in the construction industry.
Koyari is promising to use his contacts in the central government to get more transportation infrastructure projects in Shiga, and to create more economic opportunities for women and the elderly.