Inclusion Criteria:

• Systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg in those ＜70 years old or ≥160 mmHg in those ≥70 years old or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mmHg in a sitting position on two consecutive measurements at clinic

• At least one of the following risk factors:

  • SBP ≥180 mmHg or DBP ≥110 mmHg on two consecutive visits;
  • Type 2 diabetes (fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dl, causal blood glucose ≥200 mg/dl, HbA1c ≥6.5%, 2 hours blood glucose on 75 g oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT] ≥200 mg/dl, or current treatment with hypoglycemic agent);
  • History of cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, or transient ischemic attack until 6 months prior to the screening;
  • Thickness of the posterior wall of left ventricle or thickness of the wall of interventricular septum ≥12 mm on echocardiography or Sv1＋Rv5 ≥35 mm on electrocardiography, angina pectoris, and a past history (≥6 months before giving informed consent) of myocardial infarction;
  • Proteinuria ≥＋1 or renal impairment (serum creatinine ≥1.3 mg/dl) within 3 months at the time of giving informed consent;
  • Arteriosclerotic peripheral arterial obstruction (Fontaine class ≥2); *Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Exclusion Criteria:

• SBP ≥200 mmHg or DBP ≥120 mmHg in a sitting position
• Type I diabetes mellitus
• History of myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accidents within 6 months prior to the screening
• Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) done within 6 months of screening or scheduled
• Current treatment for congestive cardiac failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class II or severer) or ejection fraction ＜40%
• Coronary artery disease requiring αβ blocker or calcium channel blocker
• Atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter
• Renal dysfunction (serum creatinine ≥3 mg/dl)
• Hepatic dysfunction (AST and/or ALT ≥100 IU/l)
• A history of malignant tumor within 5 years of enrollment or suspected
• Contraindication for candesartan cilexetil or amlodipine besilate
• Pregnancy, possible pregnancy, or plan to conceive a child within 5 years of enrollment
• Not suited to the clinical trial as judged by a collaborating physician
• Inability to give informed consent