June 22 marked the start of the 18-day campaign for the 24th House of Councilors election, which is to continue until voting and ballot-counting on July 10.
The key points of contention in the campaign are whether a majority of eligible voters support the economic policy of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Administration, named “Abenomics,” as well as how the voters evaluate candidates’ responses to the issue of amending the Constitution.
Regarding the agricultural policy, voters will make a judgement on how to evaluate a series of farm policy reforms including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade deal and revised policy for rice production.
The total of the 121 contested seats consist of 73 in electoral districts and 48 in proportional representation segment of the election. 389 candidates have registered to run for these seats: 225 in the electoral districts and 164 in the proportional representation.
Battles in 32 single-seat constituencies in the country have come under spotlight, where four opposition parties of the Democratic Party, the Japanese Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party and the People’s Life Party have successfully fielded a single candidate in each constituency.
These opposite parties have united to clearly demonstrate a confrontation stance against the ruling parties also by opposing the farm policy of the Administration including the TPP free trade pact.