He fans fears that illegal immigrants are behind a surge in crime and promising to deal swiftly with threats to public security.
Ishihara's government is cracking down on public school teachers who refuse to stand for the rising sun flag and national anthem because these symbols are associated with wartime militarism.
Such views on immigration and patriotism show the dark side of his popularity, said Jin Igarashi, a Hosei University professor.
"He's used the fears and frustrations of the masses to carry out antidemocratic nationalist policies and make nationalistic remarks," Igarashi said. "He's a modern fascist."
Ishihara brushes off such criticism, declaring: "I'm no fascist."
Whatever his appeal, it's unlikely Ishihara will ever be prime minister. He failed in an attempt to take control of the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party in 1989, and his decision to run for re-election last year was taken as a sign he had scaled back his ambitions.
"I'm not young. Yesterday or the day before I pushed myself a little hard when I went diving and I almost died! That never used to happen," he said. "Younger people have to come to the fore now."
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