Over the past few weeks, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura, who also serves as acting leader of Osaka Ishin no Kai, has gone from being a locally liked politician known as a team player to a national media darling, admired by the public for his strong individual leadership and communication skills in dealing with the coronavirus crisis. Here’s a look at a governor now the subject of speculation over where his future may lead.

How has Yoshimura dealt with the coronavirus and why has he suddenly become so popular nationally?

Yoshimura, 44, became the nation's first governor to announce a plan with three numeric standards that could be used to judge whether or not to lift, in stages, the request on local businesses to remain closed.