Campaigning for gubernatorial elections slated for April 11 in 12 prefectures, including Tokyo and Osaka, started Thursday, kicking off the first round of the quadrennial unified local elections.
The race in the capital has attracted 19 candidates -- the most ever -- making it far and away the most competitive gubernatorial election.
Aside from Tokyo and Osaka, the governorships of Hokkaido, Iwate, Kanagawa, Fukui, Mie, Tottori, Shimane, Fukuoka, Saga and Oita are up for grabs.