Friday's dissolution of the Lower House sets the stage for a no-holds-barred grudge match between the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Democratic Party, while emerging "third-force" political groups are seen struggling to raise public awareness enough to change the current two-party system.
For the DPJ, which is expected to be removed from office, the Dec. 16 Lower House poll is simply about collecting as many seats as possible. For the LDP, on the other hand, it presents an almost too good to be true opportunity to return to the power it lost in the 2009 election.
"We've waited three years and the battle starts today. . . . Winning the election is our mission for the people, and I would like to win this historical battle together with all of them," LDP President Shinzo Abe said during a meeting of the party's executive Friday morning.