Asahi, Takeya, Renho, Yamazoe Certain To Win In Tokyo
The NHK decision desk is projecting that the Liberal Democratic Party's Asahi Kentaro, Komeito's Takeya Toshiko, Renho of the Constitutional Democratic Party and Yamazoe Taku of the Japanese Communist Party will retain their seats in Tokyo.
Incumbent lawmaker Asahi is expected to win a second term. He is a former beach volleyball Olympian.
Asahi said he will bring everyone together to move Japan forward during his term in office.
He called the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in the final days of the campaigning a really sad incident.
He said he will pursue Abe's wishes and dedicate himself to the job of protecting the country and building a future.
Takeya will likely take a third term. She was a parliamentary vice minister of finance.
Renho is the former executive deputy president of the Constitutional Democratic Party.
Renho, age 54, has served three terms. She was the top vote-getter in the last two elections she ran in.
In 2010, she was appointed minister for administrative reforms in the Cabinet led by the Democratic Party's Kan Naoto.
Renho was born in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and Taiwanese father. Before becoming a lawmaker, she was a well-known TV presenter and news anchor.
Yamazoe Taku is a lawyer. He was elected for the first time six years ago.
Yamazoe said the Japanese Communist Party's seat in the Tokyo electoral district reflects voters' wish to protect the Constitution.
He said he will stand on the frontline of discussions not on changing the Constitution but on how to materialize its ideals to improve people's lives and achieve peace.
Tokyo had six seats up for grabs, the highest number of any district. A total of 34 candidates competed in a fiercely contested race.
In the past two Upper House elections, the ruling coalition and opposition forces won three seats each.