HIV patients' advocate Kawada wins lower house Tokyo by-election

HIV patients' advocate Kawada wins lower house Tokyo by-election

TOKYO, Japan - Etsuko Kawada shakes hands with her hemophiliac son Ryuhei (L) on Oct. 22 after winning in a House of Representatives by-election in Tokyo's No. 21 single-seat constituency. A 51-year-old independent and longtime supporter of people with HIV, Kawada garnered 51,008 votes, beating three rivals including Sekiichi Kato of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, who won 48,883. Kawada will fill a seat vacated by disgraced 38-year-old lawmaker Joji Yamamoto, who resigned from the Diet last month over fraud allegations.

Independent Kawada wins lower house by-election in Tokyo

Independent Kawada wins lower house by-election in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Etsuko Kawada, whose hemophiliac son's legal battle over contracting HIV through tainted blood products symbolized a challenge to the Japanese establishment, speaks to supports Oct. 22 after winning a House of Representatives by-election in Tokyo's No. 21 single-seat constituency. Kawada, a 51-year-old independent and longtime supporter of people with HIV, stood atop a beer crate in front of JR Tachikawa Station and said, ''We can create a new politics.''

Independent Kawada wins lower house by-election in Tokyo

Independent Kawada wins lower house by-election in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Etsuko Kawada, whose hemophiliac son's legal battle over contracting HIV through tainted blood products symbolized a challenge to the Japanese establishment, speaks to supports Oct. 22 after winning a House of Representatives by-election in Tokyo's No. 21 single-seat constituency. Kawada, a 51-year-old independent and longtime supporter of people with HIV, stood atop a beer crate in front of JR Tachikawa Station and said, ''We can create a new politics.''

HIV patients' advocate Kawada wins lower house Tokyo by-election

HIV patients' advocate Kawada wins lower house Tokyo by-election

TOKYO, Japan - Etsuko Kawada shakes hands with her hemophiliac son Ryuhei (L) on Oct. 22 after winning in a House of Representatives by-election in Tokyo's No. 21 single-seat constituency. A 51-year-old independent and longtime supporter of people with HIV, Kawada garnered 51,008 votes, beating three rivals including Sekiichi Kato of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, who won 48,883. Kawada will fill a seat vacated by disgraced 38-year-old lawmaker Joji Yamamoto, who resigned from the Diet last month over fraud allegations.