Incumbent Takuya Tasso was reelected Sunday to a second term as governor of Iwate Prefecture, according to early returns, with the primary focus of voters' attention being on how to move forward with the reconstruction of the region devastated by the March 11 disasters.
Declaring victory, Tasso, who has been leading the reconstruction work in the prefecture since the disasters, said at his campaign office in Morioka, "To the best of my ability, I will do everything to support those affected by the disasters and proceed with reconstruction work."
"I will take the initiative to realize a safer and richer Iwate," he added.