OPPOSITION: Main opposition heavyweight defeat jolts Japan's lower house election

SENDAI - A heavyweight defeat in northeastern Japan in Sunday's general election saw a co-secretary general of the main opposition party lose to a ruling Liberal Democratic Party candidate.

Former Finance Minister Jun Azumi of the Centrist Reform Alliance, who had won the district in 10 consecutive elections since 1996, was defeated in Miyagi's 4th constituency by Chisato Morishita, a former idol, marking his first constituency loss.