With the House of Councillors election looming this summer, a local assembly race in Tokyo on June 22 will likely give a gauge on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's future prospects, as it has long served as a bellwether for national politics.The outcome of the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election could even force Ishiba to step down, as his popularity has waned due to questions about his attempts to boost economic sentiment, including his moves to curb soaring rice prices.The assembly election in Japan's capital has often influenced Japan's political landscape, triggering the dissolution of t…READ FULL ARTICLE
