NHK’s decision desk is projecting the Kagawa No.1 district will go to the Constitutional Democratic Party’s Ogawa Junya. Hirai Takuya, a former Digital Minister is expected to lose, but could still win a place in the Diet through proportional representation.
The tightly fought race in the country’s southwest was almost a rematch of the 2017 election.
Three candidates ran for the single seat. Two were former lawmakers from Liberal Democratic Party and the Constitutional Democratic Party. One was a Nippon Ishin newcomer.
Ogawa Junya came very close to taking this district last time. He ended up winning a seat through proportional representation and secured a fifth term as lawmaker. He received some support from a local chapter of the Japanese Communist Party.
Hirai Takuya of the LDP won the race four years ago.
The 63-year-old politician then took on a brand-new portfolio under the Suga administration. As the country’s first Digital Minister, he was in charge of overhauling dated technical systems. He is supported by Komeito.
Machikawa Junko did not run in 2017 and decided to join this race at the last minute. Before this, the Nippon Ishin candidate worked as a secretary for an Upper House member.
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