Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government decided Friday that next year's nationwide round of local elections will be held on April 12 and 26.
Under a bill approved by the Cabinet and expected to clear the Diet, elections for 11 prefectural governors and the mayors of five major cities will be held on April 12.
A second round to elect town and village heads and assemblies will take place two weeks later, on April 26.
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