Photo/Illutration Yoichi Fukazawa talks about his plan as a Diet member after winning the Lower House by-election in Shizuoka Prefecture on the night of April 26. (Ryo Kato)

SHIZUOKA--A candidate backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party won the Lower House by-election here following a campaign conducted primarily over social media and a dismal voter turnout under the nationwide state of emergency.

Yoichi Fukazawa, 43, a former member of the Shizuoka prefectural assembly, gained 66,881 votes in the April 26 election for the Shizuoka No. 4 constituency, well ahead of the 38,566 ballots cast for his main rival, Ken Tanaka, 42, who was backed by the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and three other parties.

Two other minor candidates also entered the contest.

Voter turnout was 34.1 percent, lower than in the last Lower House election three years ago.

The by-election was held under a state of emergency declared to control the COVID-19 crisis. All residents in Japan, including candidates and eligible voters, were urged to remain vigilant against the novel coronavirus, including staying at home and avoiding crowded places.

During the campaign, the contenders refrained from holding rallies and giving speeches at public venues. Instead, they turned to social media to lay out their policy measures.

Many of the candidates felt they could not reach out to voters in this manner.

“We could not assess voters’ reaction throughout the campaign period,” an official on one election campaign said.

Voters themselves had to show up at polling stations to have their voices heard.

The election administration committee did take some precautionary measures to keep the virus at bay.

It called on voters to cast their ballots early to avoid creating crowds on election day, and committee members ensured that there was adequate ventilation at the polling places.

The committee also placed disinfectants and disposable gloves at polling stations. Pencils and boards in the polling booths were repeatedly sanitized.

Members wore masks and gloves at some polling stations, and when they counted the votes, they covered their faces with plastic guards.

But voters were still wary about going out to cast their ballots.

Setsuko Asada, who did vote, said she initially thought about skipping the election.

“I was afraid of encountering a large crowd at the polling station,” said Asada, 77.

The pandemic also deprived the winner of a chance to celebrate in the usual way with his supporters.

After Fukazawa’s victory was confirmed, there were no cheers of banzai and handshakes at his campaign office in Shizuoka’s Shimizu Ward.

Standing in an area sectioned off by poles, Fukazawa bowed deeply to express gratitude to his supporters who watched him from a parking lot.

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