Tachiagare Nippon’s Ogura Campaigns on a Boat

A recent AP article by Yuri Kageyama highlighted some of the strict campaign laws governing the way Japanese electoral candidates can campaign:

Japanese laws strictly regulate the use of the Internet in elections. Candidates — and even regular voters — aren’t allowed to use Twitter because that would be a violation of laws that also control the number of posters, air time on TV and other campaign operations.

The article is particularly interesting in light of the increasing use of Twitter as a legitimate channel for politicians, corporations, journalists, etc. to communicate directly, and in real time, to any interested “followers” (and, when it comes to politicians and corporations, we may as well identify “followers” as the stakeholders and influencers that they are or have the potential to be).

It is a fascinating topic (one which I may write more about later), but this is just a quick post because I am on my way out. As Kageyama’s piece has been on my mind the past couple of days, I immediately thought of it this morning when I heard some campaigning outside my window.

If you live in Japan, you are no doubt accustomed to the loud campaign trucks which drift around political ridings in the run-up to any election. Imagine my surprise when I craned my neck over the balcony to see yet another irritatingly loud campaign truck, but was instead greeted by this image:

小倉あさこ/Asako Ogura campaigning on the canals of Chuo-ku

Yes, Tachiagare Nippon’s Asako Ogura (たちあがれ日本の小倉あさこ) is cruising around the canals of Chuo-ku on a boat! It’s not Twitter, but it is definitely very creative and the first time I’ve seen this around here – a great way to differentiate yourself in a campaign that is full of the mundane parade of trucks around the streets: Chuo-ku is full of canals and waterways, so why not get out there in a boat?

(Tachiagare Nippon is itself an interesting topic – perhaps I’ll blog about that another day, but, for now, you can read the Wikpedia blurb)