Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida resumed his election campaign activity Saturday after being interrupted by an explosion as he prepared to deliver a speech in the west of the country, local media reported.

This incident came nine months after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during an election rally last July, which caused shock in Japan and abroad and prompted the authorities to review security measures.

"A loud explosion was heard (...) the police are investigating the details. I would like to apologize for the people's anxiety," Kishida said in the early afternoon local time in front of Wakayama station, just a few kilometers from the accident site.

"We are in the midst of an important election campaign for the country, and we must work together to make it a success," he added.

Kishida is taking part in another afternoon rally in Chiba, near Tokyo.

The prime minister was scheduled to deliver a speech in the coastal city of Saikazaki on Saturday morning in support of his party's candidate for a by-election, and had just tasted local fish when the crowds were stampeded.

Several media outlets, including Kyodo news agency, reported that a device resembling a "smoke bomb" was thrown, and television footage showed movement among the gathered crowds, before an explosion was heard, followed by white smoke.

The public television station "NHK" broadcast scenes showing police officers fixing a person on the ground while the crowd dispersed, and stated that a man was arrested in the place on suspicion of "obstructing commercial activity."

The authorities have not issued any official confirmation yet, while the police declined to comment.

A woman who was present at the scene told the TV station, "I ran quickly and after about ten seconds I heard a loud noise and my child started screaming. I was in shock. My heart is still racing."

Another person told the same station that panic gripped the crowds before the sound of the explosion, when someone said he saw another person throwing an explosive device.

"It is unfortunate that such an incident occurred in the midst of an election campaign that forms the basis for a democratic system. This is an unforgivable atrocity," said Hiroshi Moriyama, the LDP's electoral strategy chief.

And Japan strengthened security measures after the assassination of Shinzo Abe, who was shot while delivering a speech in the context of an election campaign as well.

The security measures surrounding Abe's participation were light, and his assassination prompted a deep review of the way political figures are protected.

The national police chief resigned after admitting there were "flaws" in protecting the former prime minister.

The accused murderer, Tetsuya Yanagami, said he targeted Abe because of his possible links to the Mon sect, also known as the Unification Church.

The suspect had complaints about this group, to which his mother apparently made large donations, which led to the bankruptcy of the family.
The new incident came on Saturday, while Japan is hosting this weekend the ministerial meetings of the Group of Seven, while the summit of this group will be held in the Japanese city of Hiroshima in May.

In Sapporo in the north of the country, the US special envoy for climate affairs, John Kerry, expressed his "great concern" after learning of the accident, stressing that Kishida was "a personal friend and I have great appreciation for him."