Japanese TV entertainer wins governor race - media

TOKYO, Jan 21 (Reuters) A Japanese TV entertainer was elected a governor today, defeating a ruling bloc-backed rival and three others in a result unlikely to cheer Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ahead of a national election in July.

The election for governor of Miyazaki Prefecture in southwest Japan was one of three elections today that have been billed as a prelude to a July poll for parliament's upper house.

Exit polls and later surveys showed that comedian Sonomamma Higashi -- who ran as an independent -- was assured victory in Miyazaki, defeating a trade official backed by Abe's ruling camp and three other rivals, public broadcaster NHK reported.

''From now on, Miyazaki will change, and together we must change it,'' Higashi, 49, told supporters.

''From now on, my true worth will be tested.'' Abe's support rates have slipped to below 50 per cent since he took office in September with public ratings of around 65 per cent, due partly to scandals involving hand-picked appointees and a concern that he is restoring his party's old guard.

The Miyazaki election was held after the incumbent resigned and was later arrested over a bid-rigging scandal, one of several to rock local governments in recent months.

Higashi, who has studied local government and said he would quit show business, won support among ''floating voters'' who shun party affiliation and are fed up with political party corruption by running without any party backing, Japanese media said.

The ruling camp fared better in Ehime Prefecture in central Japan, where media said incumbent Governor Moriyuki Kato, 72, was heading for re-election with the backing of Abe's Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner as well as the tiny opposition Social Democrats.

In Yamanashi Prefecture, where LDP supporters were split, 64-year-old challenger Shomei Yokouchi, a former lower house lawmaker, was on track to oust incumbent Takahiko Yamamoto, 71, NHK said.

The main opposition Democratic Party, however, failed to field official challengers in any of the races, media noted.

The Democrats, weakened by a big defeat in a 2005 lower house election, hope to deprive the ruling camp of its upper house majority in the July poll for parliament's less powerful chamber.

Final results for the three prefectural governor elections will be announced late in the evening today or early tomorrow.

REUTERS DKA BS2007