Six candidates officially started campaigning early March 17 for a March 29 Lower House by-election to fill the Tokyo No. 4 constituency seat left vacant by Shokei Arai, who last month hanged himself shortly before he was to be arrested over illicit profits from Nikko Securities Co.

Both the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the largest opposition group, Minyuren, plan to stage full-scale campaigns in the constituency as a prelude to the Upper House elections in July. The election comes in the wake of the LDP's third consecutive victory in a recent gubernatorial race and Lower House by-elections in Nagasaki.

Arai, a Lower House member from the LDP, killed himself last month shortly before he was to be arrested on suspicion of demanding illicit profits from Nikko Securities Co.

Minyuren, which comprises the Democratic Party of Japan, Minseito (Good Governance Party), Shinto Yuai (Amity Party) and the Democratic Reform Party, has fielded Jin Matsubara, a 41-year-old former member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. Matsubara is also backed by Shinto Heiwa (New Peace Party), the Komei group and Kaikaku Club (Reformers' Network Party).

Kensaku Morita, 48, a former Upper House member, is running for the Lower House seat on the LDP ticket.

The Liberal Party has fielded Hiroyasu Satake, 37, an associate university professor, while the Japanese Communist Party is backing Michinobu Tokutome, 45, deputy chief of the party's Tokyo chapter.

The other two candidates are Tetsu Ueda, 70, a former Lower House member who is running as an independent, and Setsuo Yamaguchi, 48, a real estate businessman.