July 7 is known as ÆßϦ (Tanabata, the Star Festival) in Japan. This is the night that the mythical deities Orihime and Hikoboshi, separated by the Ìì¤Î´¨ (ama no gawa, Milky Way), are allowed to meet.
Back down on Earth, however, this year, July 7 is ͶƱÈÕ (³Ù¨³ó²â¨²ú¾±, election day) in –|¾© (°Õ¨°ì²â¨, Tokyo) ¡ª not a time for lovers, but a time for rivals, decisions and democracy. The upcoming ßx’¤ (senkyo, election) for the role of ֪ʠ(chiji, prefectural governor) is currently a big topic of discussion across the country because, after all, this is the person in charge of Â鶹´«Ã½ Ê׶¼ (shuto, capital).
Even if you¡¯re not a –|¾©¶¼Ãñ (°Õ¨°ì²â¨ tomin, Tokyo resident) or a ÓИØÕß (²â¨±°ì±ð²Ô-²õ³ó²¹, eligible voter), you can still take part in the conversation surrounding the –|¾©¶¼ÖªÊÂßx’¤ (T¨kyo-to chiji senkyo, Tokyo gubernatorial election) if you are able to master a few words and terms surrounding ÈÕ±¾¤ÎÕþÖÎ (Nihon no seiji, Japanese politics).
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