Democratic town administration defended

In Motoyama Town in Kochi Prefecture, a candidate supported by the
Japanese Communist Party, won the Dec. 16 mayoral election.

The winner, Imanishi Yoshihiko (former deputy mayor) , succeeds to the
town's democratic administration.

Supported by broad sections of the townspeople, including conservative
people, Imanishi received 1,729 votes, defeating the rival candidate
(former secretary to an LDP Dietmember) who was supported by the LDP and the
Komei Party.

In the small town of several thousand people, the LDP and the Komei
Party, helped by their Dietmembers, carried out unprecedented anti-communist
attacks but failed. (end)