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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Daniel Boffey in Brussels

Tokyo mayoral win a ‘huge surprise’ for candidate living in Belgium

Satoko Kishimoto.
Satoko Kishimoto wants less privatisation and more citizen participation. Photograph: Asia Europe People's Forum/YouTube

A Japanese woman living in Belgium has been elected as mayor of a district in Tokyo after coming to prominence through her online campaigning during the Covid pandemic.

Satoko Kishimoto, 47, who has lived in the Belgian city of Leuven with her husband and children for a decade, is now mayor of Suginami city, a ward of 500,000 people, more than 5,800 miles away from her home.

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