Well-known TV entertainer Sonomanma Higashi was elected governor of Miyazaki Prefecture on Sunday to replace Tadahiro Ando, who resigned last month and was arrested on corruption charges.</PARAGRAPH> <PHOTO> <TABLE WIDTH='250' ALIGN='RIGHT' BORDER='0'> <TR> <TD><IMG ALT='News photo' BORDER='0' SRC='../images/photos2007/nn20070122a1a.jpg' WIDTH='250' HEIGHT='172'/></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B>Sonomanma Higashi and supporters react at a Miyazaki hotel after learning he had won Sunday's special gubernatorial election. </B> KYODO PHOTO</FONT></TD> </TR> <TABLE> </PHOTO> <PARAGRAPH>'Miyazaki will change its history of conservative –

," said Higashi, 49, an apprentice of comedian Beat Takeshi, after learning he had won. "We must change Miyazaki together."

Higashi, 49, whose real name is Hideo Higashikokubaru, apparently attracted voters by shedding his image as a comedian and receiving no backing by any political party.

He defeated four other candidates, including a former government official supported by the ruling coalition.

Voters appeared ready to choose a candidate with no political strings attached, following the recent rash of arrests of governors over bid-rigging and revelations of funding scandals involving key players in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration.

Elections to choose governors of Ehime Prefecture and Yamanashi Prefecture were also held Sunday at the end of the incumbents' four-year terms.

Ehime Gov. Moriyuki Kato, 72, backed by the ruling LDP, its junior partner New Komeito and the opposition Social Democratic Party, won a third term.

Kato, who called for streamlining the prefectural government, was endorsed by more than 300 groups ranging from business circles to labor unions.

In Yamanashi, former House of Representatives member Shomei Yokouchi, 64, knocked out Gov. Takahiko Yamamoto, 71, who was seeking a second term, former JCP prefectural assembly member and medical doctor Hidefumi Ishihara, 63, and art museum operator Nozomi Kaneko, 61, according to exit polls.

The three elections were seen as a prelude to national elections later this year that will be a crucial test for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

In Miyazaki, Higashi and former Forestry Agency Director General Hidesaburo Kawamura, 57, had been locked in a close race with Tetsuji Mochinaga, 46, a former official in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry backed by the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito.

Two other candidates in the Miyazaki race were Tadakatsu Tsushima, 61, head of the Japanese Communist Party's local chapter, and former high school teacher Nobuhiro Takeda, 52.

Higashi gained support from voters in their 20s, 30s and 40s who do not support any political parties, according to exit polls.

Ando, the previous governor, stepped down Dec. 4. He was arrested and indicted later in the month on bid-rigging charges over public works projects.

Higashi, who was born and raised in Miyazaki Prefecture, announced his retirement from show business when he declared his candidacy in December.

As a pupil of Beat Takeshi, Higashi won popularity through TV variety shows, dramas and commercials.

However, he has been involved in scandals in the past, such as assaulting a junior TV entertainer or being questioned by police for allegedly receiving services from a minor at an adult-entertainment establishment.

Voter turnout stood at 64.85 percent, up 5.51 points from the previous election in 2003.

In Ehime, Kato faced two challengers -- JCP-backed Tsukasa Wada, 54, a former teacher at a school for the disabled, and former prefectural assembly member Yasuhiro Kusuhashi, 38.

For Abe, whose Cabinet support rate has dwindled since taking office in September, the gubernatorial elections were a test of support in the runup to nationwide local elections in April and the House of Councilors election in July.