Campaigning starts for mayoral, municipal assembly elections

Official campaigning started Sunday for elections to pick mayors and assembly members in a number of cities across Japan as part of the second round of a series of quadrennial local contests.Voting to pick the mayors of 88 cities, chiefs of 12 of Tokyo's 23 wards, and assembly members in 294 cities and 21 Tokyo wards will take place on April 23, the same day voters cast ballots in by-elections for five vacant seats in parliament.The results of the series of elections could affect whether Prime Minister Fumio Kishida decides to dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap election before…READ FULL ARTICLE