Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's popularity is expected to change the nature of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election slated for next month.
The election will be the first large-scale vote since the inauguration of the Koizumi government last month. The parties, who see it as a prelude to the House of Councilors election in July, are preparing for it as rigorously as they would for a national election. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which prior to the inauguration of the Koizumi government had expected its seats in the 127-seat metro assembly to decrease, has gained confidence and now says voters are listening to the party's messages.
The Democratic Party of Japan, among others, is even showing partial support for the Koizumi government, saying "Mr. Koizumi understands our policies well."