Campaigning begins for upper house by-election in western Japan

Official campaigning commenced Thursday for a House of Councillors by-election in western Japan, the first national contest since Prime Minister Fumio Kishida revamped his Cabinet last month in a bid to re-energize his political base. The upper house race in the Tokushima-Kochi district kicked off before campaigning for a House of Representatives by-election starts next Tuesday. The two by-elections on Oct. 22 are expected to be one-on-one battles between the ruling and opposition forces. The by-elections come as the approval ratings of Kishida's Cabinet have slumped to the lowest levels since...