Incumbent Hiroshima Gov. Hidehiko Yuzaki, center, celebrates winning his fourth four-year term in Hiroshima on Nov. 14, 2021. (Kyodo)

       HIROSHIMA (Kyodo) -- Incumbent Hiroshima Gov. Hidehiko Yuzaki was assured of winning his fourth four-year term on Sunday, after having campaigned on a pledge to continue his prefecture's coronavirus countermeasures, projections by Kyodo News show.

       Yuzaki, 56, ran against two challengers as an independent and without backing from any party. In the previous race, he ran as an independent but received the support of the Liberal Democratic Party, the Komeito party, and the now-defunct Democratic Party.

       Easily recognized by the public, Yuzaki took the lead in the gubernatorial race as he vowed to focus on the COVID-19 response. On Sunday, the prefectural government said no new infections were confirmed in the area for the first time since Feb. 27.

       His rival, Takae Nakamura, a 35-year-old member of the Japanese Communist Party, promised to improve working conditions for medical staff and provide financial support for students struggling to make ends meet.

       Masatoshi Tarutani, 70, who works in a recycling business, failed to broaden his support base in the prefecture, where Prime Minister Fumio Kishida represents a constituency.

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