Governor, Election and Tokyo Alert 16th July 16:42
Governor Yuriko Koike made a big difference in the two elections.
There are people who have been watching the movement of Koike. The governors of the three neighboring prefectures.
What did the governors think of Tokyo's measures against corona and elections? Then, look back at what happened in the process of Koike's candidacy announcement.
(Metropolitan area center/Ryo Naruzawa, Mayu Ogura, Saki Hayakawa, Yokohama station/Ryoji Fukagawa, Chiba station/Hitomi Kaneko, Saitama station/Kana Ueda)
I have no choice but to “cooperate” with Tokyo...
"Mr. Koike, I said, "That's so loose," and suddenly I was asked to take a leave, and I started to talk about various industries side by side. We were surprised."
Yuji Kuroiwa, the governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, said with a slightly tough look.
On April 7, the state issued an emergency declaration. In response to this, Tokyo began requesting leave on the 11th, four days later.
I recall that Kuroiwa was an unexpected story.
"In the beginning, it was a story that the country would work together with the local areas to "restrain the outing thoroughly". The story of requesting leave was the next story. We felt that way too."
At this time, Governor Koike was active, including direct contact with Prime Minister Nishimura's economic revival and Prime Minister Abe over the issuance of an emergency declaration and a request for leave.
"There was a meeting between Minister Nishimura and Governor Koike, and I decided that "Tokyo, please wait a moment" and I had an agreement if the country would push through. Eventually, the meeting between Minister Nishimura and Governor Koike Then, a very detailed story, how about a beauty salon, what to do about a barber, how about a super sento, a really detailed story came out, and a scenario that we would like to work with the country in an instant It has collapsed.”
Then, regardless of Tokyo, each prefecture should consider its countermeasures.
However, Motohiro Ono, the Governor of Saitama Prefecture, explains the situation unique to neighboring prefectures that "there is no effect".
“For example, if the serving time of alcoholic beverages is different between Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture, people may move to the next place. I think that cooperation is necessary first. However,
Kuroiwa also thought that he had no choice but to keep pace with Tokyo at this time.
“If there is a similar store in Kanagawa prefecture, people may flow from Tokyo. This may increase the risk of infection, so without thinking deeply, reflection By the way, I said that Kanagawa Prefecture will line up with Tokyo.”
But that was a miscalculation. While the governors of neighboring prefectures are paying close attention, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has established an “infection spread prevention cooperation fund” to be provided to small and medium-sized enterprises and sole proprietors in Tokyo who fully cooperate with requests such as closures, and the number of stores Depending on the, you will be paid 500,000 yen or 1 million yen.
"This was tough. Although Tokyo could receive this much cooperation money across the river, it would be impossible for Kanagawa to have nothing, so I desperately struggled and struggled to prepare up to 300,000 yen. However, it was really tough if I was asked why there was a difference of 300,000 yen in Kanagawa prefecture, even though I could get up to 1 million yen in cooperation money in Tokyo.
On the other hand, Koike, at a press conference, explained that he could be able to provide the cooperation money because he has a sufficient financial base like Tokyo.
“Each region has its own characteristics. Since each situation is different, it is important for Tokyo to do what it needs to do first, and then speed. I think each prefecture will have a hard time, but first It means that I will do what I need to do in Tokyo as the Governor of Tokyo. It is my role in Tokyo to think about how to protect the people of Tokyo and protect their lives.”
Koike, who goes to the front every day and sends a message, with the governors of the neighboring prefecture being tossed about. It was almost two months before the announcement of the Governor of Tokyo.
Uncomfortable "step" to release
It's been about a month and a half since then, May 25th. The national declaration of emergency has been lifted.
Requests for suspension of business leave in Tokyo, which was fooled by the governor of the neighboring prefecture, will be gradually eased. At that time, the city showed a roadmap divided into four stages, "Steps 0-3".
Again, Kuroiwa says, "I'm not sure."
“For example, I was wondering what it means that the pachinko industry is really open until Step 3.”
Kanagawa Prefecture eased all industries from midnight on the 27th. Kuroiwa was also targeted for relaxation at entertainment facilities such as pachinko parlors and arcades, live houses, gyms, and restaurants with entertainment. There was a reason for that.
“For example, a pachinko parlor can be said in a single word, but there are shops that are doing proper infection control, and there are no clusters out there. Even if you try to prevent infection, the business format There is no way out when pachinko is said to be useless.I thought that the Kanagawa method is to visualize how much infection prevention measures are being implemented and create a flow for everyone to choose, so I launched it
here .” He decided that it was not necessary to match his stance with Tokyo. In Saitama Prefecture, pachinko parlors and game arcades are also subject to cancellation.
On the other hand, Chiba Prefecture has adopted a method similar to that of Tokyo, which is divided into four stages according to the type of industry.
Kensaku Morita, the governor of Chiba Prefecture, says that the situation may be completely different from that in Tokyo, but the effects cannot be ignored when looking at the infection situation.
"After all, Chiba prefecture is very influenced by Tokyo as an adjacent prefecture. Because it is 80% of the infected people in the Tokatsu area (northwestern part of Chiba prefecture adjacent to Tokyo). I often hear the number of infected people. Sometimes people ask me what Tokyo is like. First of all, if Tokyo doesn't get better, we can't do it."
June 1st. Tokyo will be called "Step 2", and it will be possible to reopen retail stores such as cram schools, theaters, movie theaters, gyms, and department stores. From the "self-restraint mood", the whole society was moving toward the prevention of the spread of infection and the balance between economic and social activities.
It was almost half a month before the announcement of the election of the governor--
The disappeared "Tokyo Alert"
Around this time, the city council was interested in "when Koike will announce his candidacy."
June 2. The day of the representative question in which major parliamentary groups of the metropolitan assembly directly ask the governor. Immediately after the start from 1 pm, information jumped in.
"Today, it seems that "Tokyo Alert" will be activated."
"Tokyo Alert" calls for caution to the citizens of Tokyo when it judges that the infection situation has deteriorated again as the city gradually eases requests for leave. It is a measure unique to Tokyo. As the interview progressed, it was discovered that more than 30 new infections were confirmed on this day. It was the first time in 19 days that there were more than 30 people. There was no grace.
"Today, the number of positive people has risen to 34, and other monitoring indicators have also become strict over the past few days. In response to this number, experts of the opinion including "Tokyo Alert" are issued. Based on
the opinions of experts of infectious diseases, the official launch of the "Tokyo Alert" was decided at the Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting held before 10 pm on this day. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office and Rainbow Bridge were dyed red for the first time.
Kuroiwa saw Koike's anguish there.
"Tokyo Alert suddenly suddenly got stuck. It wasn't clear when I saw it, but I was suffering a lot after I arrived, but I proceeded from Step 1 to Step 2 (the condition remains the same)."
And on June 10, the final day of the regular assembly of the Metropolitan Assembly.
"If the supplementary budget that includes the cost of measures against corona is approved and approved by the metropolitan assembly, then it must announce its candidacy," said
the general view of the metropolitan assembly.
However, the bottleneck was the "Tokyo Alert" that Mizuno Koike activated.
Koike has continued to avoid the candidacy of the candidature, saying that "the new corona measures are the top priority". According to the people around him, he thought he could not make a statement unless the situation was calm.
To release the "Tokyo Alert," Tokyo used as a guideline whether or not it fell below the three indicators. However, all three indicators did not easily fall below the standard values.
June 11th, when the "requirements" were met for all three indicators. Koike has decided to cancel "Tokyo Alert".
According to the city's executives, if they wait for the cancellation any longer, the results of the inspections conducted by the people involved in the so-called “night town” will come out, and there is a risk that it will not be possible to cancel by this standard.
After that, Koike said that he decided to cancel the alert and entered a new stage, and referred to a request for leave and a review of the alert mechanism.
The "Tokyo Alert" was issued once, and virtually disappeared.
On June 12, Koike proceeded with the relaxation of requests for leave etc. to "Step 3" from this day. It became possible to open restaurants such as taverns until midnight the next day, as well as karaoke stores.
Koike has removed the obstacle "Tokyo Alert" created by himself. At a press conference, he said:
“Why did you say today's race? Originally, there was no “which day”. There are some places where I can't really read the measures against corona. The supplementary budget was established. The Tokyo alert was canceled. From the start of the city administration, I think I could have settled a step first. There is no end to measures against coronavirus, but I will announce today that I will run for this stage, so I made it today. It
was up to 6 days before the date of notification.
3 days before the vote "107 people infected" also...
Even after the election campaign began, Koike was still focused on public affairs. It is said that the executives of the city gave instructions to each department such as "Please insert the inspection date of the governor."
However, infection confirmation continued to increase, as if inversely proportional to Koike's "quiet" election campaign.
On July 2nd, three days before the voting day, a "shock" runs on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office.
“107” The number
of new infection confirmations per day exceeded 100 for the first time in two months.
Koike held a temporary press conference that evening. In the form of an "ordinary" having a board, I called on the residents of the city as follows.
"When I was asked to take leave, everyone put up with me. Nobody thinks returning to that situation is preferable."
The appearance of the extraordinary press conference was featured in a news program. One of the city officials muttered:
"It's an appealing appeal to voters,"
Koike said in response to a series of responses from other candidates.
“On the 12th of June, the day after the cancellation of “Tokyo Alert”, he announced that he would run for the Governor of Tokyo. It would be significant if he responded arbitrarily because of political speculation. official announcement and its release of "is, give priority to political convenience for the gubernatorial election horse, or not intended to be arbitrarily determined"
to this open letter, Koike camp countered.
"When activating and canceling it, we decided that it would be appropriate from experts to do so." The
voting date was already around--
Issues seen through "Tokyo"
The result was Koike's victory.
Koike did not stand on the street for himself, saying he would not ask for political party recommendation in this election. From the morning of the next day, he appeared on the table and moved swiftly.
A message was sent to the staff, and a greeting was given to the Tomin First meeting that supported the faction. After that, Prime Minister Abe, the Komei Party of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, the Chairman of the Olympic and Para Organizing Committee Mori, the representative of the Komei Party, Yamaguchi, and the secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party's second floor had a series of breathtaking meetings.
How were the governors of the three prefectures looking at Koike?
"The Tteyuu forces and outgoing burn by words, still I think it's genius. It is I think that led to victory." (Kanagawa, Kuroiwa)
re-elected are evaluated and the results of the "four years I think that the election has entered a new era.” (Saitama/Ohno)
“I think Mr. Koike has done his best. The Olympic and Paralympic Games and then the Coronavirus, fight in such a situation. That's why.” (Chiba/Morita) On
top of that, he cited the issues that came to light because of his relationship with Tokyo.
Ono, Saitama Prefecture, points out that sufficient information sharing has not yet been established.
“I have asked you to share information on positive patients with each other, but it has not been realized yet. Those who became positive in Tokyo do not know even if they live in Saitama Prefecture. It is necessary to strengthen the system. Or, I think it is necessary for the country to control the prefectures without borders like Taiwan,”
says Kuroiwa in Kanagawa prefecture, who also wants to appeal to the country.
"If the Governor was given authority under the Special Measures Law (for the new coronavirus countermeasures), that would be a proof, that is, we needed military funds and soldier rice. We did not have anything like that.
Ta ” Morita of Chiba Prefecture exclaimed the difficulties of the neighboring prefecture, which also depends on the situation in Tokyo.
"The situation is really different in all 1 prefecture and 3 prefectures. Including the budget. We must say that the government and Tokyo should not cooperate firmly in uniting their intentions. There are some difficult points. I think it is very meaningful to speak in one prefecture and three prefectures."
Governor vs Corona, from now on
On October 10, the four governors met for the first time in a video conference after the election of the Governor of Tokyo. We have compiled a joint message that calls on residents and prefectures to use shops and facilities that are implementing infection control measures.
However, the number of confirmed infections in Tokyo continued to exceed 200 people, and the number of infected people in the three adjacent prefectures further increased. The governor who attended the meeting spoke a word that expressed a sense of crisis. I've taken a new step, but the road seems to be steep.
What the three governors interviewed this time said in common as what is necessary for future infection control is the word "pinpoint."
“The declaration of an emergency has been lifted and people are moving in and out of things. I think it's difficult even if you put a big net on. It's a pinpoint when you go out to Tokyo, and this area is very infected. It is dangerous if we are not careful about such industries.” (Morita)
“The economy's engine will be turned on by taking measures to actively control the places where clusters appear and where dangerous places are easy to appear. I think that one more keyword will be to become more pinpoint from now on.” (Kuroiwa)
And Ohno in Saitama Prefecture has specifically moved to “pinpoint” measures. Based on "Article 24-9" of the Act on Special Measures, he decided to request a leave of absence for restaurants with entertainment where infection control measures have not been taken.
This "Article 24, Paragraph 9" was used as the basis when Koike began requesting leave on April 11. This time, Saitama Prefecture put on a tip.
Koike won the election. The effects of her steering are not limited to Tokyo.
How to prepare for the second and third waves. How do you proceed with "pinpoint" measures? And now that the original "Tokyo Alert" has disappeared, what should we do if there is an outbreak of community infection that cannot be prevented by "pinpoints"?
The members of the national cluster countermeasures team also say, "It's still two times in baseball."
Whether or not we can protect the lives of the people of Tokyo will be a crucial moment.
(Honorific title omitted in the text)