OSAKA -- Two years since he became governor of Osaka Prefecture on a wave of public outrage over political corruption involving his predecessor, former comedian "Knock" Yokoyama finds himself the target of discontent over the prefecture's financial problems.
The governor has also angered voters by backing down on a campaign pledge not to use funds for further construction work at Kansai International Airport and for attempting to use taxpayers' money to bail out a failed waterfront project. In an exclusive interview with The Japan Times, Yokoyama outlined the current state of Osaka Prefecture's finances. He said he remains optimistic that the situation will turn around, and expressed hope that the troubled Rinku Town complex will eventually serve as a major international commerce and residential center.
Yokoyama, who ran as an independent, took office after his predecessor, Kazuo Nakagawa, was embroiled in a series of financial scandals involving his support groups. Nakagawa's supporters chose to nominate Takuya Hirano, a former bureaucrat, as his replacement. But Osaka voters elected Yokoyama, who entered the race only a few weeks before the election.