Young people gather at LDP HQ to cheer for Aso

About 300 people, including many youths, gathered Sunday in front of Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo to cheer for LDP Secretary General Taro Aso, a big fan of "manga" comic books, as he made an unsuccessful bid to become the next prime minister.

A group of young people cheer for Taro Aso and carry sheets bearing his name in front of Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo on Sunday. KYODO PHOTO

Chanting his name and waving "Yes! Aso" placards, the youths, most of whom were dressed in jeans and carrying backpacks, showed up in response to calls posted on the Internet.

The supporters gathered from just past lunchtime and stayed until Aso, 67, left the building at around 4 p.m. after losing to Yasuo Fukuda in a party election to pick the successor to outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Aso responded to their cheers with a wave.

An LDP veteran who has served in key government posts, including foreign minister, Aso is well known as a manga enthusiast, an image that has drawn him closer to the younger electorate.

In the previous LDP presidential election in September 2006, he made a stump speech in Tokyo's Akihabara district, a popular gathering spot for people devoted to manga and "anime" movies, and was well received.

Toshiharu Kawasaki, a 39-year-old self-employed man from Tokyo, expressed disappointment over Aso's defeat Sunday, saying, "Factional politics was given priority. The Liberal Democratic Party should be destroyed at once."

Fukuda won the election with overwhelming factional support.

A 35-year-old man from Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, urged Fukuda to keep in mind that Aso has some public support and expressed hope he will be treated well by getting a ministerial post.

Meanwhile, in his home district in Fukuoka Prefecture, supporters and residents expressed regret while at the same time praising him for putting up a good fight.

Shuichi Saruwatari of Aso's Iizuka office in Fukuoka said, "A loss is a loss, but (we were able to reap) the fruit of his efforts."

Fukuda, 71, took 330 votes from LDP lawmakers and local chapter representatives, while Aso got 197. The result was something of a surprise as LDP lawmakers close to Aso believed he would get about 90 votes at most.