Prime Minister Shinzo Abe AP PHOTO

Two candidates from Abe's Liberal-Democratic Party won polls in Kanagawa and Osaka prefectures, retaining seats in the Diet left vacant by two governing party lawmakers who died earlier this year.

The elections were closely watched as a test of Abe's clout in the run up to an Upper House election next July.

The Japan Times Weekly: Oct. 28, 2006
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