Former Japanese defence minister elected as Tokyo's first woman governor

Tokyo, Aug 1: Former Japanese defence minister Yuriko Koike was elected as the Japanese capital's first woman governor early Monday (August 1).

Koike, 64, who ran as an independent, came out ahead of her two main rival candidates: former internal affairs minister Hiroya Masuda and journalist Shuntaro Torigoe, state broadcaster NHK reported.

Masuda was recommended by the governing coalition and other parties. Four opposition parties backed Torigoe.

Koike gained over 2.9 million votes, while Masuda obtained nearly 1.8 million, and Torigoe about 1.3 million.

The voter turnout was about 60 per cent, nearly 14 percentage points higher than the previous election two years ago.

Koike became Japan's first female defence chief when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appointed her to his first Cabinet in 2007.

"Will lead Tokyo politics in unprecedented manner"

"I will lead Tokyo politics in an unprecedented manner, a Tokyo you have never seen," the BBC quoted Koike, as saying.

She graduated from Cairo University in Egypt and was a TV journalist before entering politics.

IANS