Campaigning for the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election began Friday with the race for the July 2 election pitching the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) against Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike's Tomin newly-established First no Kai (Tokyoites First party), among others.

     Koike has been on the receiving end of some negative criticism recently over a protracted decision regarding a new relocation site for the Tsukiji fish market amid pollution concerns, while Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling LDP has caught flak from the public on a number of fronts that could affect its chances in the election.

     Currently the leading party in the assembly, the LDP is having to contend recently with a plunging public support rate for Abe's Cabinet following the ruling coalition's forced enactment of a controversial "conspiracy" law by way of dodging some upper house legislative procedures.

     The law itself and the manner in which it was forcibly enacted had drawn staunch criticism from civic groups, lawyers, opposition parties and regular citizens, who feel the law has the potential to infringe upon civil liberties, while its forced enactment drew protests for the ruling camp's autocratic style of governance.

     In the Tokyo assembly, 127 seats are up for grabs for the 260 candidates vying for them, with the LDP backing 60 candidates, while Tomin First no Kai is putting forward 50. Both the Democratic Party and Komeito are fielding 23 candidates each, while the Japanese Communist Party is endorsing 37 candidates.

     In the Tokyo assembly, Koike's Tomin First no Kai will form an alliance with Komeito, the LDP's junior coalition ally in national politics.

     As it stands, the LDP holds 57 seats in the assembly, and Komeito has 22. The Japanese Communist Party with holds 17 seats, while the Democratic Party has seven and Tomin First  First no Kai holds six.

     High on the agenda of topics to be contested in the capital are preparations in the run up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, which have already been mired in budgetary setbacks as well as location hiccups, while a lack of daycare facilities for children have led to lengthy waiting lists which for a long time has been a source of concern for Tokyoites.  Enditem