The official campaign period for gubernatorial elections in nine prefectures began Thursday, in the first half of the unified local elections.
Voting in the gubernatorial races, as well as races for mayor in certain major cities, is to take place on April 9.
While the gubernatorial race in Hokkaido is a showdown between ruling and opposition parties, the Nara and Tokushima gubernatorial elections are likely to see conservative votes split between candidates connected to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
