With one of the world's largest clusters of nuclear plants just some 60 km to the north, the Fukushima crisis is looking to be a major campaign issue in Kyoto's Feb. 5 mayoral election.
But even though most Kyoto voters are not affiliated with a major party, the kind of voter revolt against established parties that Osaka saw in November is not expected in a campaign that pits a candidate backed by all of the non-Communist parties against the Japanese Communist Party contender.
Incumbent Daisaku Kadokawa, 61, backed by all major ruling and opposition parties, is seeking a second term. Challenger Kazuo Nakamaura, 57, who ran against Kadokawa in 2008 and lost by only 951 votes, is supported by the JCP.