Gubernatorial election campaigns began Thursday in Tokushima and Ibaraki prefectures with each incumbent facing a challenge from one other candidate.

Voting in the two elections will be held Sept. 16.

In Tokushima Prefecture, Toshio Endo, the 58-year-old governor, and Tadashi Ota, a 58-year-old newcomer, registered their candidacies.

Endo, backed by the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the New Conservative Party, as well as the opposition Liberal Party, is expected to emphasize his achievements during eight years in office, such as promoting expressway construction. He is likely to pledge further infrastructure improvements.

Ota, a former prefectural assembly member, is supported by citizens' groups that promoted a plebiscite over a controversial dam project on the Yoshino River. Ota is also expected to vow to suspend the ongoing expansion of Tokushima airport.

The key to the race will be whether Ota can erode Endo's electoral base.

Voter turnout could be low due to the absence of a major issue after the dam project was canceled last year.

In Ibaraki Prefecture, Masaru Hashimoto, the 55-year-old incumbent, is being challenged by Naoto Nakata, a 70-year-old lawyer.

Hashimoto, backed by the LDP and New Komeito as well as the opposition Democratic Party of Japan and the Social Democratic Party, is aiming for a third term.

An employee of the former Home Affairs Ministry, Hashimoto is likely to stress his involvement in three municipality mergers and large public projects, including the construction of a port and a highway in the prefecture.

Nakata, supported by the Japanese Communist Party, is expected to hit Hashimoto's public works policies, which are facing money difficulties.

It is feared voter turnout may drop below the previous election's 31.87 percent, with the majority of voters appearing indifferent to the election.