The governors of Tokushima and Ibaraki prefectures cruised to victory Sunday as both won re-election to their third consecutive terms, according to early election results.
In Tokushima Prefecture, incumbent Gov. Toshio Endo, 58, beat off a challenge from Tadashi Ota, a 58-year-old rookie.
Endo was backed by the tripartite ruling coalition -- the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the New Conservative Party -- as well as the Liberal Party.