The Dec. 14 Lower House election is being billed as primarily a voter referendum on economic issues, especially "Abenomics."

But regardless of what the parties' Tokyo headquarters say is official policy on various issues, it's what the candidates and the local party chapters say, or don't say, out on the campaign trail that wins or loses votes.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's national platform devotes one paragraph to the Trans-Pacific Partnership — that the party is pursuing the most favorable path for Japan's interests based on previous LDP and Diet resolutions.