Tokyo is about to get its first new governor in almost 14 years, and whoever wins the Dec. 16 election will have to fill the shoes of Shintaro Ishihara, who leaves behind a legacy both positive and negative.
The 80-year-old Ishihara, who now heads Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party), quit as governor in late October midway through his fourth term. Looking back on his tenure, analysts say he did a good job in the fields of infrastructure, economy and the environment, enhancing Tokyo's standing as one of the world's leading cities.
However, areas with a more direct impact on day-to-day life, such as welfare, medical care and education, stagnated during Ishihara's reign.