A gubernatorial election was held on 29 July 2012 to elect the next governor of , a prefecture of Japan in the Chà «goku region of the main island of Honshu.
Sekinari Nii (LDP), who had held office since 1996, did not stand for re-election.
Candidates
Shigetaru Yamamoto, former bureaucrat of the ministry of Transports, endorsed by LDP and New Komeito.
Tetsunari Iida, engineer, anti-nuclear and pro renewable energy. Backed by the SDP and the JCP.