Former Kagoshima prefectural assembly chief Masuo Kaneko of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party was assured of victory Sunday in a House of Representatives by-election after Kyodo News projections showed him defeating five other contestants.
The election was the first national-level contest since the consumption tax was raised on April 1.
Kaneko, 67, defeated Akashi Uchikoshi, 56, an independent backed by the Democratic Party of Japan and three other opposition parties. Kaneko also enjoyed backing from the LDP's smaller coalition partner, New Komeito.