...after some consideration ... (190/365, 9 Jul 2022)
Obviously, in the first instance, in the wake of yesterday's events, there were questions about whether or not candidates and parties should continue their rallies, on what is the biggest day of the campaign trail. Friends, relatives, and even a couple students texted, tweeted, asked that I not go. By late last night however, most parties were of the view that to suspend campaigning would be giving in to violence and democracy is much more important than that. With the day turning into a day of resistance against violence in a democratic society (*more on that later, on the other blog), of course, I had to go and gauge the mood. The morning papers were consistent in their messaging.
I started in the morning with a short bus trip to Akabane Station, where I finished up at the end of the Lower House elections last year, coincidentally to hear another Japan Communist Party candidate, Tamura Tomoko. There was a reasonable crowd there, mostly JCP loyalists, and notably, in addition to the usual signs and placards, new ones made overnight deploring the violence that led to Abe's death, and that democracy should not be defeated by senseless violence. People were angry about the killing, in the circumstances of what is considered an important part of Japan's election campaigning. It could so easily happen anywhere...could it not?Tamura campaigned from the top of her truck before climbing down to mingle with the crowd, though perhaps with a little more haste and a stronger 'watchful eye' presence. Needless to say, when I go to these gigs, I carry my big cam with the 300mm zoom, which I did today. I was more than self-conscious taking it out of my backpack...
Once Tamura moved off to her next stop, ahead of schedule, people did not linger.
In looking up the schedules, I decided to focus on activities around Ikebukuro Station. Unfortunately, the way the final day goes, you need about four versions of yourself to get around to all the places. Research-wise, my primary interests in these campaigns include the performance of the opposition parties (why can't they defeat the LDP?), and the electoral fortunes of women and minority candidates. Ikebukuro today and into the evening was going to give me that opportunity.
First stop was Fukushima Mizuho, leader of the now very small Shaminto but with a heritage going back to the Socialist Party. She is a protege of the late Doi Takako, something of a trailblazer for Japanese women in politics. She was a larger than life figure in my graduate student days here (so much so, I wanted to switch my thesis topic to a study on her and women in politics--but was prevented). But Fukushima has carried on Doi's legacy and I have followed her career quite closely.
I arrived a little early, and spotted Fukushima with her staff a little distance away. I waited nearby and then. somewhat self-consciously thought I might look a little suspicious, watching them (remember, I have a backpack with a camera and a 300mm lens), because this wasn't where they were scheduled to be so I was just watching to see where they were headed. But feeling odd, after yesterday, I did approach them to introduce myself and tell them why I was there. It worked out OK, we had a brief chat and then I followed them to the appointed venue.
It was a strange feeling, and not something I would have felt the need to do, but for yesterday.
After Fukushima, I wandered back towards the Station where the KokuminMinshuto were rallying people. No candidates or high profile pollies here, just the local members, doing their best.
After a little break, not long enough to go home and come back, I wandered over to the west side of the station where the JCP and Koike's group and star candidate, Araki, were due to hold their stump speeches.
As I arrived at the West side, Reiwa were packing up and Araki/Koike were setting up, or at least staking out their ground, a little sneakily perhaps because JCP were supposed to be here...hmm.
This is the nature of the final day of hustings, in ordinary times, when everyone seeks to squeeze out the advantage to the very last minute. Campaigning must cease at 8:00pm so the last couple of hours are always hectic.
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| Jostling for space |
On the way, in a side street, I came across one candidate, on her own, affiliated with the LDP but without the profile of other candidates. And unexpected sight in my travels today. More on these low-profile candidates on the other blog soon.
Back to the 'main' show...Turned out, to avoid any hassle, JCP moved a couple of blocks up the road. A small sign held by a couple of supporters showed the way. It was at this particular gathering that events of yesterday were apparent. A huge police and security presence; the candidate and party leader set far from the crowd and the usual meet and greet was cancelled for safety reasons. The JCP draw a committed group of supporters, largely because of their very clear pro Article 9 stance. (It is also the party's 100th anniversary this year.)
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| Another example of signs made overnight abhorring violenc |
After the JCP, time to swing by the station again to see Koike and her protege Araki...a kind of drawing the circle I suppose--having first come across Araki at my local station and again at Tachikawa Station, on day one of the campaign (including former PMs Abe and Suga at separate speeches).
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These banners, 'hon nin' let us know the candidate is in the house,
I mean, here, on the hustings |
There was a rather large crowd assembled, Araki dared to make her way around the crowd, and in the end, even with the 300mm lens, I was too far away to get reasonable pics of Araki and Koike. Notably, although a political rival of Abe, Koike was dressed in black, traditionally apparel for mourning.
I proceeded to get dinner on the way home, the end of another day on the hustings, perhaps my last, an ending I did not anticipate. There is much to tease out.
Most pics today with the self-consciously carried Canon EOS 90D, 70-300mm lens. A couple of pics (Araki close-up) with the iPhone 12 mini.
Tomorrow, we await the result.
