Tokyo gubernatorial election campaign kicked off Thursday for the election of a new governor after Shintaro Ishihara suddenly resigned from the post which he held for more than 13 years last month.

Naoki Inose, 66-year-old vice governor of Tokyo, is recommended by Ishihara to be his successor. Another major candidate for the election is Kenji Utsunomiya, former president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

Inose, who is backed by the Liberal Democratic Party, Japan Restoration Party and New Komeito Party, said he will continue Ishihara's policies, pledging to reform the Tokyo Electric Power Company and bid for the 2020 summer Olympic Games.

Supported by the Japan Future Party, Social Democratic Party and Japanese Communist Party, Utsunomiya promised to phase out nuclear power and provide better social welfare.

The ruling Democratic Party of Japan has not endorsed any specific candidate.

The rest six candidates are former Kanagawa Governor Shigefumi Matsuzawa, retired lawmaker Takashi Sasagawa, singer Tokuma, renowned inventor Yoshiro Nakamatsu, former diplomat Shigenobu Yoshida, and Mac Akasaka, a foundation executive.

The election vote will be held on Dec. 16, coinciding with the Diet's lower house election.