An independent candidate opposed to the central government's plan to deploy a U.S.-developed missile defense system in Akita Prefecture defeated the ruling party incumbent in the Akita district in Sunday's Upper House election.
Shizuka Terata, 40, was jointly fielded by the main opposition forces in Akita, where a geographical survey conducted by the Defense Ministry to assess suitability for the deployment of the land-based Aegis Ashore missile defense system was later found to be faulty.
Terata beat Matsuji Nakaizumi, 40, a first-term lawmaker who ran for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party.