With beads of sweat pouring down his forehead, veteran Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Toshio Ogawa addressed a small crowd in Tokyo late last month, begging for their support in the Upper House election.

The 62-year-old Ogawa told the gathering their votes would allow his party to "press forward with the political reform" that he said was set in motion when the DPJ won power in last August's general election.

"Allow me to continue taking part in this ongoing reform," Ogawa said. But only scattered applause greeted the veteran's plea for support as onlookers began leaving the scene.