Voting starts in Japan's unified local election, regional economy in focus

Japanese voters started to cast their ballots Sunday morning in the first stage of Japan's unified local election.

As part of the unified local elections held every four years, Sunday's voting will pick 10 gubernatorial and five ordinance- designated major cities' leaders as well as assembly members in 41 prefectures and 17 major cities.

Both the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP) and opposition parties are trying to shore up their support base to brace for upcoming national contests, including the Upper House Election next year.

Candidates backed by the biggest opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will challenge incumbents supported by the LDP in Hokkaido and Oita's gubernatorial races as well as Sapporo's mayoral election.

Main issues in the local elections include Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's regional revitalization measures and his economic policy package, dubbed "Abenomics."

However, some analysts believe that Abenomics may promote big export-oriented companies, but there are little signs that the benefits of Abenomics are trickling down to small and medium-sized businesses in local area.

Thus, the unified local election, the first time since Abe took office again in late 2012, will become a test for Abe's regional economic policies.

In the second round of the unified local elections, voting for mayoral and assembly elections in smaller cities, towns and villages will be held on April 26.