Former health minister, backed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, defeats two candidates who promised to end nuclear power

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

Yoichi Masuzoe, a former health minister backed by Japan's ruling party, won Tokyo's election for governor on Sunday, defeating two candidates who had promised to end nuclear power.

Masuzoe's victory was declared in exit polls on public broadcaster NHK minutes after voting closed. Masuzoe, 65, appeared smiling before cameras and promised to make Tokyo the No 1 city in the world while his supporters shouted "Banzai".

The ballot was widely seen as a test for Japan's public opinion on atomic power in a nation shaken by the Fukushima nuclear disaster. The anti-nuclear camp was divided between two candidates – a former prime minister, Morihiro Hosokawa, and a human rights lawyer, Kenji Utsunomiya.

NHK exit polls gave Masuzoe about 30% of the vote. Hosokawa and Utsunomiya received about 20% each, indicating that if the anti-nuclear vote had been united, a win by either might have been possible. Official vote tallies were not expected until Monday.

Masuzoe was backed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who wants to restart Japan's 50 nuclear reactors, which were closed after the Fukushima disaster. Hosokawa was backed by the former prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, who is opposed to use of nuclear power.

The public has been worried about safety after the meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Protesters have periodically gathered outside government buildings and marched in parks, demanding an end to nuclear power.

Tetsuro Kato, professor of political science at Waseda University in Tokyo, said the anti-nuclear vote suffered because voters could not agree on one candidate. He said: "This could have worked as a key vote on nuclear power, not just about city politics. But those pushing for zero nukes failed in their strategy."

Masuzoe stressed that Tokyo needs electricity. After his victory he said: "The Fukushima disaster has left me without words, but reducing our dependence on nuclear power needs to be done gradually."

Masuzoe appealed to voters by identifying himself with Abe's relatively successful economic policies, which have set off a Japanese stock rally, and by promising a successful 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The outgoing governor, Naoki Inose, led Tokyo's Olympic bid with great fanfare, but resigned late last year over a money scandal.