Attorney Takeshi Shina of the Democratic Party of Japan was headed for victory Sunday in a Lower House by-election in Iwate Prefecture, exit polls showed.
Shina, 40, who also received support from another opposition party, Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party), was virtually assured of beating Masanori Tamazawa, a 36-year-old former employee of a private foundation fielded by the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling coalition. The Japanese Communist Party backed Sadakiyo Segawa, 57.
In Sunday's other Lower House by-election, in Kumamoto Prefecture, former House of Representatives member Tetsushi Sakamoto, 56, was on course to win. He ran as an independent but received support from the LDP.
Sakamoto was ahead of former prefectural assembly member Yoshiyuki Araki, 49, Hidetomo Goto, 40, deputy chief of the Kumamoto chapter of the DPJ who was also recommended by Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party), and Toru Matsuoka, 62, fielded by the Japanese Communist Party.
The seat in the Kumamoto No. 3 district was vacated when agriculture minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka of the LDP committed suicide in May amid a money scandal.
The seat in the Iwate No. 1 district was vacated by Takuya Tasso of the Democratic Party of Japan, who quit to launch a successful run for governor in April.
Sakamoto vied for a seat against the late Matsuoka in the last two elections.