• Defeat deals blow to Prime Minister and LDP President Fumio

TOKYO: Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party lost a by-election in Shizuoka Prefecture for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, on Sunday, dealing a blow to Prime Minister and LDP President KISHIDA Fumio.

The poll is one of the two Upper House by-elections held on Sunday as the first parliamentary polls since Kishida took office early this month. An LDP candidate won the other race in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

The by-elections were drawing keen attention ahead of an election for the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of parliament, set for Oct. 31.

In the central prefecture of Shizuoka, Shinosuke Yamazaki, a 40-year-old independent backed by two opposition parties, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People, defeated two contenders, including an LDP candidate.

The Shizuoka by-election was held to fill the vacancy left after an LDP member stepped down to run for the governorship of the prefecture.

In the western prefecture of Yamaguchi, Tsuneo Kitamura, a 66-year-old former Upper House member from the LDP who is supported by Komeito, the party’s coalition partner, defeated two other candidates.

The Yamaguchi by-election took place after an LDP member left the Upper House to switch to the Lower House.

JIJI Press