Two independent candidates registered Thursday to campaign for the Kumamoto gubernatorial election on April 4.
Incumbent Gov. Yoshiko Shiotani, 65, faces competition from Michio Goto, 52, the head of a civic group.
Shiotani, who became Japan's second female governor in 2000, after Osaka Gov. Fusae Ohta, has the support of the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and about 100 business and labor organizations in the prefecture.