Veteran lawmaker Shizuka Kamei, who left the ruling Liberal Democratic Party due to his opposition to the postal reform bills, survived a challenge Sunday from Livedoor Co. President Takafumi Horie in the Hiroshima No. 6 district to retain his Diet seat.

Kamei, 68, was re-elected to the House of Representatives for the 10th consecutive time despite challenges by the 32-year-old independent Horie, a postal privatization advocate, and Koji Sato, 46, of the Democratic Party of Japan.

Little-known newcomer Yoji Ito, a 27-year-old former securities broker, also ran as an independent.