ABSTRACT
What particularly distinguished Hyogo in the 1996 and 2000 elections was the variance between local and national electoral co-operation agreements. A five-party alliance united both government and opposition parties against the LDP and the Communists. Events leading up to the 1993 election resulted in the LDP losing a number of its candidates and seats to the new parties, while a long-standing divide in the socialist camp had split the SDP by 1994. Despite the maintenance of the Alliance framework, nomination difficulties in Hyogo were more common in 2000 than in 1996. The 1st district thus faced the June 2000 election with two incumbents and no experienced challengers. The 1996 NFP nomination in the 2nd district was settled fairly simply in favour of Akaba Kazuyoshi. The new 3rd district is made up of two Kobe wards and is largely metropolitan with a strong socialist base. The new 4th district is a combination of parts of the old 1st and 3rd districts.
