News On Japan

Senkyo-Wari: Free Ramen Toppings to Boost Voter Turnout

TOKYO, Jul 06 (News On Japan) - The Tokyo gubernatorial election, with voting on July 7, has sparked a debate over the 'Senkyo-Wari' campaign, which offers discounts and services at participating stores upon presenting a voting certificate, aimed at boosting voter turnout. Approximately 250 establishments, including ramen shops, cafes, and beauty salons, are participating in Tokyo.

Public opinion on 'Senkyo-Wari' is divided. One person said, 'I think it's great if it increases voter turnout. I haven't voted before and didn't plan to, but if I had known about this, I might have gone.' Another remarked, 'If people vote without proper consideration just for discounts, it defeats the purpose.'

When asked about 'Senkyo-Wari,' early voters had mixed reactions. One individual said, 'I didn't know about it. Ideally, voting should be done without such incentives.' Another commented, 'I was unaware of it. If such a campaign exists, it might encourage more people to vote.'

A ramen shop offering free toppings or eggs for about five years through 'Senkyo-Wari' aims to spark interest in elections. Michiko Watanabe from Paimein Setagaya Main Store said, 'I hope people will think, "Lucky! There's this kind of service if I vote," and take more interest in elections.'

Some bakeries have reported customers using 'Senkyo-Wari.' A customer said, 'When I asked if a photo was acceptable proof, they said yes. Knowing about such offers might encourage more people to vote.'

Shōtarō Satō, President of the Election Discount Association, which organized 'Senkyo-Wari,' emphasized its significance. 'We aim to encourage non-voters to take their first step and remind regular voters to participate despite their busy schedules.'

However, concerns about potential benefits to specific candidates or vote-buying have been raised. Satō responded, 'After consulting with lawyers and election officials, we established strict rules to ensure compliance with the Public Offices Election Act.'

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, overseeing the election, stated that 'Senkyo-Wari' does not pose immediate legal issues and that improving voting conditions is key to enhancing turnout.

The Tokyo gubernatorial election voting is set for July 7.

Source: FNN

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Police have revealed that a woman killed by her former partner in Higashi-Osaka had sustained dozens of stab wounds across her body, including injuries that pierced internal organs.

Vast hillsides have been cleared for the construction of a large-scale solar power facility in Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture, leaving piles of felled trees scattered across the slopes. The development covers approximately 146 hectares, or the size of 32 Tokyo Domes, and involves cutting down about 365,000 trees to make way for 470,000 solar panels.

OpenAI has unveiled its latest video generation AI, Sora2, which can produce realistic footage in about three minutes, including Japanese anime-style clips and composite videos featuring real individuals.

Former US President Donald Trump is arranging a three-day visit to Japan starting on October 27th, marking his first trip to the country in six years.

Maebashi Mayor Akira Ogawa held a closed-door meeting with all city council members on October 2nd to explain her repeated hotel meetings with a married senior city official, but afterward she avoided stating whether she would resign.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Politics NEWS

Former US President Donald Trump is arranging a three-day visit to Japan starting on October 27th, marking his first trip to the country in six years.

Maebashi Mayor Akira Ogawa held a closed-door meeting with all city council members on October 2nd to explain her repeated hotel meetings with a married senior city official, but afterward she avoided stating whether she would resign.

Japan is about to hold the leadership election of the ruling party, and the winner will become the next prime minister. Five candidates are in the running this time. Some people say Japan is doomed no matter who wins. (Japanese Comedian Meshida)

The upcoming Liberal Democratic Party leadership election will determine not only who leads Japan’s ruling party but also who is likely to become the country’s next prime minister, and the voting system itself plays a decisive role in shaping the outcome. The election is decided by a combination of votes from LDP lawmakers in the National Diet and ballots cast by the party’s grassroots members across Japan, creating a two-stage process that balances national and local influence.

With the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election just days away, questions have emerged over the handling of a clerical error in Kanagawa Prefecture’s membership rolls, an organization chaired by Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.

A bombshell report has surfaced in Kanagawa Prefecture, the political base of Shinjiro Koizumi, where as many as 826 members of the Liberal Democratic Party aligned with the Takaichi faction were treated as having resigned from the party without their consent, according to an investigation by the weekly magazine Bunshun.

An anti-immigration rally in Osaka on September 30th descended into chaos as nationalist groups and Antifa counter-protesters clashed in the streets, with loud chants, heated exchanges, and occasional physical altercations captured on camera.

In a September opinion poll conducted by TV Tokyo and the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, former Minister of State for Economic Security Takaichi was the frontrunner with 34% when respondents were asked who they believed should be the next Liberal Democratic Party president.