{"id":76201,"date":"2010-07-01T16:07:42","date_gmt":"2010-07-01T07:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/welcome.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp\/modules\/xpressme\/?p=143"},"modified":"2010-07-01T16:07:42","modified_gmt":"2010-07-01T07:07:42","slug":"an-interview-with-gubernatorial-candidate-takeshi-matsumoto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/history\/an-interview-with-gubernatorial-candidate-takeshi-matsumoto\/","title":{"rendered":"An interview with Gubernatorial candidate, Takeshi Matsumoto"},"content":{"rendered":"

The noisy election season is about to begin; the election for the next Governor of Nagano prefecture will be held in August. Don’t be alarmed if a white van with loudspeakers blaring drives past you and ladies with white gloves on wave at you from within…
\n\"Matsumoto-san<\/a>
\nSo far, two candidates Abe Shuichi (the former vice-Governor) and Takeshi Matsumoto (director of Chihiro Museum) have announced their candidacies. Local politics, and even national politics, is a spectator event at best for even long-term residents; England will win the football World Cup before we get a vote.
\nVisitors could care even less I am sure. In the past, official opinion could be interpreted as reciprocal! Times they are a changing.
\nCandidate Takeshi Matsumoto gave me an hour of his time last week to talk about himself, his beloved Chihiro Museum<\/a>, and his plans to shake things up a bit should he win the election.
\nThe interview is unedited, in English, and available to listen\/download at Podbean<\/a> or here<\/a>, or on the podcast player here<\/a> where you can also read my feelings about Matsumoto-san’s policies.
\nI think it’s great that a candidate for Governor can express himself competently…and in English. I look forward to sharing the views of other candidate(s) if they are ready & willing to make themselves available.
\nWhat are your comments on Mr. Matsumoto’s policy ideas?<\/p>\n