The unified local elections, which are held once every four years, closed at 4 p.m. on the 9th, with voting for nine prefectural gubernatorial elections, six ordinance-designated city mayoral elections, and 6 Ordinary City Council elections.
In the Hokkaido gubernatorial election, which was the only full-scale confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties in Japan, the incumbent recommended by the ruling party was assured of victory. In Osaka, incumbent Hirofumi Yoshimura won the gubernatorial election and newcomer Hideyuki Yokoyama won the mayoral election of Osaka.