Backed by Fujita supporters among Liberal Democratic Party members of the prefectural assembly, as well as by members of the Democratic Party of Japan, Yuzaki defeated four other contenders to secure a four-year term in the governor's office.

The other contenders included Anri Kawai, a 36-year-old former prefectural assemblywoman endorsed by LDP assembly members critical of the Fujita administration, as well as by Shizuka Kamei, state minister in charge of postal and financial affairs, who leads the People's New Party.

Yuzaki gained 395,638 votes, while Kawai, the runner-up, garnered 195,623 in the election, in which turnout was 33.71 percent, up 6.57 percentage points from the previous race, according to the election board.

The three other candidates were Shoji Murakami, 62, fielded by the Japanese Communist Party, Michiko Shibasaki, 54, a former prefectural assembly member, and Yasuhiro Kawamoto, 42, a cram school operator.

The focus of the election was on whether voters would choose someone who would continue to pursue the administrative and financial reform drive initiated by Fujita, 60, who is leaving office after four four- year terms as governor.

During the election campaign, Yuzaki stressed his administrative experience as a former trade ministry bureaucrat and from establishing and running a company.

He also appears to have secured support from the local business community by calling for regional economic policies such as promoting tourism in the Seto Inland Sea area.