Japan's Ruling LDP, Opposition DPJ Each Win 2 Of 5 Key Mayoral Races

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) each won two of five closely watched mayoral contests in Sunday's united local elections, local media reported Monday.
In Tokyo's Setagaya, incumbent Nobuto Hosaka supported by the DPJ and two opposition parties secured the position by beating 55- year-old Hidefumi Kubota recommended by the LDP. While the other DPJ-recommended candidate defeated a rival candidate supported by the LDP in Seto, Aichi Prefecture.
But in the Oita mayoral race, LDP-backed Kiichiro Sato, 57, defeated 59-year-old Michiko Mukuno, who received support from DPJ. The ruling party also saw its candidate win in Kyotanabe, Kyoto Prefecture.
Both the LDP and DPJ failed in Tokyo's Shibuya mayoral race, in which a nonpartisan candidate was elected.
Sunday's elections were hold to elect mayors of 62 cities, 69 towns and villages and 11 of Tokyo's 23 wards. Voters also cast ballots to pick assembly members in 281 cities, 284 towns and villages and 21 Tokyo wards.
However, the average voting rate has declined to a record-low of 50.53 percent, compared with the previous 52.97 in 2011, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said Monday. (Cihan /Xinhua)