Former defence minister Yuriko Koike has won the Tokyo gubernatorial election to become the first woman to lead the Japanese capital, final election results confirmed Monday. 
In Sunday's election, Koike, who ran as an independent, came out ahead of her two main rival candidates: former Internal Affairs Minister Hiroya Masuda and journalist Shuntaro Torigoe. Masuda was recommended by the governing coalition and other parties. Four opposition parties backed Torigoe. 
The voter turnout was about 60 percent, nearly 14 percentage points higher than the previous election two years ago, Japan's broadcaster (NHK World) reported. 
Koike, a former TV anchorwoman who speaks fluent Arabic and English, received 2.91 million votes, while Masuda, who served as governor of Iwate prefecture, collected 1.79 million votes. 
The Tokyo election was closely watched as the new governor is expected to play a crucial role in making the 2020 Olympics in the city a success. 
Koike, a graduate of Cairo University who also served as environment minister, received broad support from unaffiliated voters and also drew away some LDP and Komeito supporters by criticising the male-dominated Tokyo branch of the LDP. 
A record 21 candidates were running in the election to succeed Yoichi Masuzoe, a former health minister who resigned from the post in June after admitting he spent political funds for private purposes. He was also criticized over taking costly business trips abroad.

Source: QNA