Japanese resident says "convinced" by his policies, as Kishida to become next prime minister

Record ID: 1639071

  • Title: Japanese resident says "convinced" by his policies, as Kishida to become next prime minister
  • Date: 29th September 2021
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (SEPTEMBER 29, 2021) (REUTERS) PEDESTRIANS WALKING TOWARDS SHINBASHI TRAIN STATION PEOPLE WALKING OUT OF TRAIN STATION TRAIN PASSING BY (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 60-YEAR-OLD TOKYO RESIDENT YUKO SAKAMOTO, SAYING: "From the candidates' policies, I feel that all of them are thinking about people and doing various things for us. But among them, I personally was convinced by Kishida's proper (policies)." VARIOUS OF PEDESTRIANS WALKING ON STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 60-YEAR-OLD TOKYO RESIDENT YUKO SAKAMOTO, SAYING: "Gender equality has been advocated (among politicians), but this time, excuse my language, I think it's too obvious that it (having two women candidates) was just for a show." PEOPLE WATCHING DIGITAL SCREEN SHOWING STAFF COUNTING VOTES FOR LDP LEADERSHIP ELECTION OLD MAN LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 51-YEAR-OLD BUSINESS OWNER DAISAKU SHIMIZU, SAYING: "No matter who becomes (the leader of the ruling party), I don't think it makes any big difference. However, with Kishida, the bureaucrats will get to work. In that sense I think that he will run the (next) administration smoothly." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING INTO STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 65-YEAR-OLD TOKYO RESIDENT TAKAE SERIZAWA, SAYING: "The current Prime Minister (Yoshihide Suga) lacks popularity a little bit. When it comes to popularity, appearances matter a lot when you show up in the media. So I think Kishida is good (because of his physical appearance)." VARIOUS OF PEDESTRIANS WALKING MAN RESTING IN FRONT OF STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) ENGINEER KENYA HASHIMOTO, SAYING: "I think the coronavirus comes first (for Kishida to tackle). We go to work (as usual), but a lot of things have been difficult to do because of the pandemic." PIGEONS ON ROAD / MAN PASSING BY PEOPLE SMOKING AT SMOKING AREA
  • Embargoed: 13th October 2021 10:28
  • Keywords: Japan Japan's Prime Minister Liberal Democratic Party Tokyo the ruling party leadership election vox pops
  • Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • City: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA001EWRTBUV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Japanese residents on Wednesday (September 29) said they felt convinced by the policies of the newly elected leader for the ruling party, Fumio Kishida.
    Former foreign minister Kishida's victory at the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race virtually ensures that he will succeed Yoshihide Suga as prime minister within days.
    "From the candidates' policies, I feel that all of them are thinking about people and doing various things for us. But among them, I personally was convinced by Kishida's proper (policies)," said 60-year-old Yuko Sakamoto, adding that she's really happy about the election result.
    Although he enjoys only moderate popular support, Kishida was backed by some of the party's heavyweights, allowing him to stop the momentum of rising star Taro Kono, the minister in charge of the coronavirus vaccine roll-out.
    "No matter who becomes (the leader of the ruling party), I don't think it makes any big difference. However, with Kishida, the bureaucrats will get to work. In that sense I think that he will run the (next) administration smoothly," said a 51-year-old business owner, Daisaku Shimizu.
    Kishida is almost certain to become premier at a parliamentary session on Monday (October 4) because of the LDP's majority in the lower house. He is expected to form a new cabinet and reshuffle the LDP executive in early October.
    During a news conference after the election, Kishida said he will seek to address income disparity through tax reforms, as well as housing and education aid to medium-income households, as measures to support the economy.
    (Production: Irene Wang)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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