While Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) battles for seats in Sunday's Upper House election, it has given up on two key local races where the expected winners oppose its fundamental goals, further eroding support in its Kansai base.
The Hyogo gubernatorial race pits Toshizo Ido, 68, the current governor and longtime Nippon Ishin critic, against Kotaro Tanaka, 64, in a race Ido is expected to win easily. Ido has the support of the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the Democratic Party of Japan. Tanaka is backed by the Japanese Communist Party.
Until last month, it appeared Ido might also face a Nippon Ishin-backed candidate. Over the past few years, Ido, who also heads the seven-prefecture, four-city Union of Kansai Governments formed to promote regional cooperation, has been an outspoken critic of Nippon Ishin co-leader and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto.