Incumbent Miyazaki Gov. Shunji Kono won a fourth four-year term Sunday, defeating his predecessor, the well-known TV personality Hideo Higashikokubaru, in a close contest.
The 58-year-old was a vice governor under Higashikokubaru, who left office in 2011 without seeking re-election after a single term. Kono ran as an independent but secured support from major parties including the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito party and Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.
Voter turnout was 56.69 percent, 22.79 points higher than in 2018.
"It is important to restore the livelihoods of local residents affected by the novel coronavirus and the high prices of goods and crude oil," Kono told supporters in Miyazaki city, capital of the southwestern Japan prefecture.
In the election, Kono highlighted his achievements during his three terms, citing the prefecture's recovery from a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2010 that hammered its livestock industry.
Higashikokubaru, 65, stressed his record during his governorship of promoting local products and pledged to attract investment and people to the prefecture, but was unable to deflect criticism that he had left office previously after only serving a single term.
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