He refused to intercede in a debate over the censorship of the manga Barefoot Gen, which depicts the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Japan's culpability in World War II, by a school board in Matsue, stating that young students may not be able to understand its depictions properly.
Following the resignation of Tokyo governor Naoki Inose on December 19, 2013, she was widely rumored to be a potential candidate for the gubernatorial election expected to be held in February 2014, along with Yuriko Koike, Hakubun Shimomura, Hideo Higashikokubaru and Yoichi Masuzoe.
Yoko Shimomura | Roger Shimomura | Osamu Shimomura | Hakubun Shimomura | Tsutomu Shimomura |