off a postal rebel. In Gifu Prefecture rebels Seiko Noda and Keiji Furuya held their seats against candidates backed by the LDP leadership. Kinki Block In the outer parts of Kansai, the LDP made minor gains, gaining capturing one DPJ seat each in Shiga and Nara. In the urban core of Osaka, the LDP gained seven seats from the DPJ for a total of thirteen as opposed to the DPJ's two, while in the neighboring Hyōgo Prefecture the LDP took all three of the DPJ's former seats. Chūgoku Block In Chūgoku, a traditional stronghold of the LDP, postal rebels gained at the expense of both major parties. While the DPJ traded two seats in Yamaguchi and Hiroshima for two seats in Okayama, the LDP also lost seats held by postal rebels Shizuka Kamei (PNP) and Takeo Hiranuma (Independent), with Hisaoki Kamei (PNP) also taking a proportional seat after being defeated in a Shimane district. Shikoku Block In Shikoku, the least populous of Japan's four main islands, the LDP largely maintained its traditional grip, losing only one seat held by rebel Shunichi Yamaguchi in Tokushima Prefecture. The DPJ held onto its sole seat in Tokushima as well. Kyūshū Block In Kyūshū's most heavily populated prefecture, Fukuoka, the LDP gained four seats from the DPJ, which was left with only one, while losing a single seat to a postal rebel. In the hinterland of Kyūshū, the LDP fared worse, losing two seats each in Miyazaki and Saga and one more in Kagoshima to rebels, although gaining the DPJ's sole seat in Saga. In Okinawa, Kōmeitō lost its district to Independent Mikio Shimoji, who left the LDP in 2003 because it had prevented him from running against its coalition partner. Sources Asahi Shimbun 2005 elections in Japan General elections in Japan Election results in Japan