After weeks of scheming and squabbling, the cast now appears all set. If the Tokyo gubernatorial election were a soap opera, few people would worry too much about the script, as long as the lineup of stars passed muster. But the choice of a governor for a metropolis with a population of 11 million is too serious a business to be reduced to a mere political show.
During the past four years, Tokyo has learned the hard way: Pop-star qualities and the skills to play standup comedy are no answer to real-life problems. Policymaking is different from sloganeering and leadership involves more than feel-good speeches.
With the national economy reeling and metropolitan finances in a state of near-collapse, the people of Tokyo must demand more substance from politicians and political parties soliciting our votes. If the preview so far is any guide, the offer is anything but promising. The way how the ruling Liberal Democratic Party chose its candidate is particularly troubling.