On September 11, DPJ Election Campaign Committee Chair Yoshiaki Takaki issued the following statement:

Today, voting in the Iwate gubernatorial took place, and the DPJ-backed candidate Takuya Tasso was re-elected as Governor. During the campaign period, a new Cabinet was launched by newly-elected DPJ President Noda, but immediately following this we were able to win a large-scale local election. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the inhabitants of Iwate Prefecture for their support, as well as to people nationwide for their encouragement.

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, Mr. Tasso, as Governor of Iwate Prefecture, has striven day and night to protect the lives and livelihoods of the inhabitants of the prefecture, with Iwate being the first of the disaster-affected prefectures to successfully put together and implement a reconstruction plan. I believe this result reflects the assessment and expectations of the inhabitants of the prefecture. In the election for the Iwate Prefectural Assembly, held simultaneously, the DPJ also succeeded in gaining sufficient seats to become the largest party in the chamber. Central and local governments will liaise closely and accelerate the movement toward reconstruction.

The DPJ is exerting every effort toward engaging in recovery and reconstruction efforts and bringing the nuclear accident speedily under control. We will return to the origin of the change of government, and with the voices of encouragement received from the people of Iwate during the election campaign in our hearts, move forward under the philosophy of “Putting People’s Lives First”. Thank you very much for your support.