Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Tokyo votes as it readies for 2020 Olympics

Japan's capital is voting for its leader after two predecessors resigned over money scandals as Tokyo prepares to host the 2020 Olympics.

Tokyo, with a population of more than 13 million people and an annual budget bigger than Sweden's, is voting for its governor Sunday.

Among top candidates are former defense minister Yuriko Koike, journalist Shuntaro Torigoe and former rural governor Hiroya Masuda.

If Koike wins, she would become Tokyo's first female governor.

One of the first jobs for the winning candidate will be going to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics as the representative of the city playing host to the next games.

The former governor resigned in June, after acknowledging exorbitant, though not illegal, spending of taxpayer money including for suite hotel rooms.

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