While only die-hard political junkies would say they are looking forward to the unified local elections taking place nationwide on April 12 and 26, the Kansai region will be important because winners there will be able to influence Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the ruling coalition's budget and policy priorities in the coming months.
At the moment, three issues that directly affect Kansai governments, as well as the region's general economic future, have emerged as the main debate topics in one gubernatorial election, six prefectural assembly elections and three municipal assembly races: Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe.
The issues involve questions related to one potential new train, 13 aging commercial nuclear reactors and 24 wards in the city of Osaka.