The election campaigns of the two candidates for the Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture started today. This gubernatorial election was held after the former Governor, Mr. Hiroshi Ogawa, announced his resignation in February before the end of his term due to his disease and officially resigned on March 24. (For further details, please refer to my article dated February 23.) Mr. Hattori worked for the Fukuoka Prefectural Government for about 40 years, out of which served as Vice-Governor under the leadership of Governor Hiroshi Ogawa for almost 10 years. I have full confidence in his competence and long experience. He is backed by the two ruling parties as the coalition government, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, as well as the two opposition parties, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Social Democratic Party.
Since today was the starting day of Mr. Hattori’s election campaign, I managed to adjust my schedule in the Diet and hurried back to Fukuoka Prefecture, my electoral district, and attended the kickoff ceremony of his election campaign and the Shinto ritual where we prayed for his victory. His opponent Ms. Mieko Hoshino is supported by the Japanese Communist Party. We cannot let our guard down. There are many difficult issues to be addressed, including how to control the coronavirus infections. I sincerely hope that Mr. Hattori will win the election in landslide, and make the best of his experience and capability for the revitalization of Fukuoka Prefecture.
