Voting started Sunday in gubernatorial elections in Yamagata and Gifu prefectures both pitting independent incumbents against challengers supported by the Japanese Communist Party.
In the election in Yamagata Prefecture, incumbent Gov. Kazuo Takahashi, 70, seeking his third term, is challenged by Teruo Suzuki, 68.
Takahashi, an independent, is backed by the Liberal Democratic Party, the Democratic Party of Japan, New Komeito and the Social Democratic Party. Suzuki, an independent, is backed by the JCP.
In the Gifu Prefecture race, incumbent Gov. Taku Kajiwara, 67, seeks his fourth term.
Kajiwara, an independent, is backed by the LDP, the DPJ, New Komeito, the New Conservative Party and the Liberal League, while his opponent, Kinju Hasegawa, 65, is an independent and supported by the JCP.
Election results were expected to be known Sunday night.