Shintaro Ishihara Independent Naoki Inose Independent The 2012 Tokyo gubernatorial election took place on December 16, 2012, which was held on the same day as the general election.

After long-term Governor Shintaro Ishihara suddenly resigned to return to national politics ahead of the then-looming next general election.

Information campaign for the polls was administered by the Tokyo Metropolitan Election Administration Commission.

[7][8] AKB48's Minami Takahashi, Tomomi Itano and Yui Yokoyama (also of NMB48) were appointed as image characters.

The previous record was 3.61 million cast for the socialist Governor Ryokichi Minobe in 1971.