JAPAN

Five face off over policies ahead of poll

DPJ presidency may boil down to support from indicted kingpin

The race is on: Candidates for the Democratic Party of Japan's leadership race (from left) Seiji Maehara, Sumio Mabuchi, Banri Kaieda, Yoshihiko Noda and Michhiko Kano show their unity Saturday at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo. | KYODO PHOTO

By Masami Ito
Staff Writer

Aug 28, 2011

Campaigning for the Democratic Party of Japan's presidential election officially kicked off Saturday, with five candidates vying to succeed Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

Former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, ex-transport minister Sumio Mabuchi, trade minister Banri Kaieda, Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda and farm minister Michihiko Kano have just two days to win over the party's 398 Diet members, who will vote Monday morning.

Because Kan's two-year term as party president is not slated to end until September 2012, the party's local assembly members and registered supporters are not allowed to participate in the vote.

Five face off over policies ahead of poll

DPJ presidency may boil down to support from indicted kingpin

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