Unlike opposition Democratic Party of Japan leader Mr. Ichiro Ozawa, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should be relieved by the results of Sunday's Upper House by-elections. Mr. Abe will now likely have the support to push through the Diet a bill for a national referendum procedure for a constitutional revision and three education-related bills, both pet agendas for the prime minister.
In Okinawa Prefecture, a former Naha city assembly member supported by the ruling coalition defeated a former labor union leader by a margin of 27,000 votes. But in the mayoral election in Ginowan, Okinawa, voters re-elected incumbent Mayor Yoichi Iha from the opposition camp, who is calling for the removal of Futenma Air Station from Japanese soil. His victory may complicate the central government's efforts to relocate U.S. bases in Japan.
In Fukushima Prefecture, a former DPJ lawmaker supported by the DPJ and a minor conservative party, Kokumin Shinto (the People's New Party), defeated a Liberal Democratic Party candidate backed by Komeito by 237,400 votes.