National News

Hokkaido, Oita wins lift ruling bloc's prospects

音声ダウンロード

The Hokkaido and Oita governors each won fourth terms April 12 as the first wave of the quadrennial unified elections gave victories to the Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito ruling bloc.

Hokkaido Gov. Harumi Takahashi, 61, and Oita Gov. Katsusada Hirose, 67, both ran as independents. Incumbents won all 10 gubernatorial elections, all backed by the ruling coalition.

Voter turnout in the elections was a record low 47.14 percent, rewriting the previous record low of 52.63 percent logged in 2003. (Kyodo, The Japan Times)

北海道、大分県知事選で与党系候補が当選

統一地方選挙の前半戦が4月12日、投開票された。10道県知事選ではすべて現職が当選し、与野党対決となった北海道、大分県知事選はいずれも与党系候補が制した。

The Japan Times ST: April 24, 2015