One day after her resounding victory in the Tokyo gubernatorial race, Yuriko Koike was surprisingly calm, responding deftly to a deluge of questions from reporters with her telegenic smile.

¡°The result was much better than I thought,¡± a relaxed Koike told reporters at her office in Toshima Ward on Monday morning.

¡°I¡¯ve fought this battle with no organizational backup and I¡¯m moved to see just how each single vote could evolve into a big movement,¡± she said.