Anti-nuclear candidates won't merge

February 7, 2013

2 anti-nuclear Tokyo governor aspirants decline to unify candidacies due to differences

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140207p2a00m0na010000c.html 

Two Tokyo governor hopefuls who are advocating an immediate end to nuclear power -- Kenji Utsunomiya, 67, and Morihiro Hosokawa, 76 -- have declined to unify their candidacies, a group calling for the merger said.

The group, known as the 'Association calling for the unity of anti-nuclear Tokyo gubernatorial candidates,' has 19 members including journalist Satoshi Kamata, as well as cultural figures, academics, and other assorted affiliates.

Association members said that they approached the campaign offices of both candidates with their request on Feb. 3.

Utsunomiya's campaign representative commented, "The official campaign is under way, and early election voting has already begun," and "There is a lack of consensus on numerous issues not related to nuclear power." Meanwhile, Hosokawa's office responded, "It is possible that the two movements may be able to collaborate at some point in the future," and "There are some differences in policy priorities."

Utsunomiya's campaign office added, "Regardless of the election outcome, both candidates have already agreed to get together and hold frank discussions."

"The decision is extremely unfortunate," commented lawyer Hiroyuki Kawai, who is also a member of the group that called for the merger. "For the anti-nuclear movement, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."