(Mainichi: October 26, 2015 – p. 2)

 In Sunday’s election for the Miyagi prefectural assembly (total of 59 seats), the Japanese Communist Party boosted its seats from four to eight (three incumbents, five newcomers). The JCP’s criticism of the enactment of the security bills in September and the broad agreement on negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact helped the communist party increase its assembly seats.

 The ruling Liberal Democratic Party had 28 seats before the election. Two candidates on the LDP ticket were defeated. The Komeito party retained its pre-election strength of four seats.

 The JCP fielded candidates in all five electoral districts in Sendai City and all five candidates won seats. In total, the party fielded nine candidates in the election, up two from the previous poll.

 Also in the Sendai mayoral race in August, JCP candidates obtained the largest-number of votes in three out of the five electoral districts. A senior Komeito member pointed out that the security bills, which were being deliberated at the Diet, had an “adverse effect” on the election. (Abridged)