Voters across Japan have cast their ballots in the first round of unified local elections. A regional party based in the western prefecture of Osaka and its affiliated national party have expanded their showing.

The elections took place on Sunday for governors of nine prefectures and mayors of six major cities, as well as the local assemblies of 41 prefectures and 17 major cities.

The incumbent, Governor of Osaka Prefecture Yoshimura Hirofumi won his second term. He is the leader of the regional political party Osaka Ishin no Kai and the co-head of the Nippon Ishin Japan Innovation Party, the second-largest opposition force in the National Diet.

Osaka Ishin no Kai also won in the mayoral race of Osaka City. It also secured a majority in both the Osaka prefectural and city assemblies for the first time ever.

Yamashita Makoto, endorsed by the Japan Innovation Party, took the governorship of Nara Prefecture. He is the first Ishin candidate to win a governorship outside Osaka.

The incumbent, Governor of Hokkaido Suzuki Naomichi won his second term.

Suzuki was supported by the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, both in the ruling coalition at the national level. He beat a candidate who was supported by the Constitutional Democratic Party, the largest opposition force in the Diet.

Another round of unified local elections will be held on April 23.