Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko has announced her intention to seek a third term in next month’s gubernatorial election.
Koike attended a plenary sitting of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly on Wednesday, the final day of its regular session.
She stressed that over the past eight years, she has devoted herself to tackling challenges that will go down in history, such as the coronavirus pandemic and hosting the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. She said she has changed various aspects of the capital.
Koike added there are still major issues to address, such as the falling birthrate, aging of society and natural disaster preparedness.
She said she decided to run in the gubernatorial race because she wants to make Tokyo better for its residents.
She plans to run as an independent.
Koike was born in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan. She is 71 years old.
After a career as a TV newscaster, she turned to politics.
She won her first Diet seat in the 1992 Upper House election. Koike then served eight terms as a member of the Lower House.
In 2016, she succeeded Masuzoe Yoichi as Tokyo governor. She is currently serving her second term.