Japan’s former education minister Hase elected governor of Ishikawa

Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, March 13 (Jiji Press) — Former Japanese Education Minister Hiroshi Hase was elected governor of Ishikawa Prefecture for the first time after beating four other candidates in a poll sunday.

The gubernatorial election in Japan’s central prefecture was closely watched as it involved three conservative candidates, including two former lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

The LDP prefectural chapter backed both Hase, 60, a former member of the House of Representatives, and Shuji Yamada, 67, a former member of the House of Councilors.

Hase, a professional wrestler turned politician, has won support from former prime ministers Shinzo Abe and Yoshihide Suga as well as Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party).

His campaign platform included a 30% cut in the governor’s salary and a 50% cut in his retirement allowances.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]