The town of Kibichuo in Okayama Prefecture, western Japan, on Monday started blood tests for residents after PFAS, potentially carcinogenic chemicals, was detected at a local water purification plant.

Ichiro Hirosawa, former deputy mayor of Nagoya, the capital of Aichi Prefecture, is certain to win Sunday's mayoral election in the central Japan city, defeating his six contenders, including former House of Councillors lawmaker Kohei Otsuka.