Hashimoto among candidates as Osaka gubernatorial election race officially kicks off
OSAKA -- Celebrity lawyer Toru Hashimoto and four other men filed their candidacy on Thursday for the Osaka gubernatorial election slated for later this month.
The five candidates -- all independent -- threw their hats into the ring on the opening day for the acceptance of nominees for the Jan. 27 election.
Critics say the race will be a showdown between three major contenders -- Hashimoto, 38, another lawyer Shoji Umeda, 57, and former professor at Osaka University graduate school Sadatoshi Kumagai, 63. The other two candidates are Seiichi Sugiura, 59, a probation officer, and Masaaki Takahashi, 65, a former junior high school teacher.
The focus of the election will be the reconstruction of the prefecture's finances that are said to be at the lowest level in the nation, revitalizing the economy in the Kansai region as well as improving academic performances at public elementary and junior high schools in Osaka.
Incumbent Osaka Gov. Fusae Ota decided not to seek her third term after a money scandal involving her surfaced late last year.