Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his ruling bloc drew heavy fire Wednesday over a spate of scandals during a debate with the leaders of five opposition parties on the eve of the official start of campaigning for the July 29 Upper House election.

Throughout the two-hour faceoff at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Abe, head of the Liberal Democratic Party, was criticized for his Cabinet ministers' money scandals and for being evasive on a consumption tax hike.

Advocating a tax hike during campaign season can mean political suicide, and Abe's ruling bloc, which also includes New Komeito, has repeatedly said it won't discuss tax reform until fall.