Jul 02 (NHK) - Voters are going to the polls Sunday to choose representatives for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly.
Political parties in Japan see the election as an important bellwether for national ballots.
Candidates are vying for 127 seats. Polling stations are open from 7 AM to 8 PM.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike is aiming to command a majority.
Her new local party Tomin First is getting support from members of Komeito and Tokyo Seikatsusha Network. Last December, Komeito ended decades of cooperation in the assembly with the Liberal Democratic Party.
The question now is whether the LDP can remain the largest force there. The LDP and Komeito are coalition partners in the national government.
National politics may have an effect on the Tokyo results.
Controversy over plans to open schools in western Japan was a big issue in the most recent Diet session.
Opposition lawmakers allege that government officials gave favorable treatment to school operators who support Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Source: ANNnewsCH
