The Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party, has established a task force charged with bolstering the party's support among women voters in the House of Councilors election slated for July.

"Women comprise half the population, and the DPJ must attract their interest and have them participate," Wakako Hironaka, a female DPJ member of the House of Representatives who heads the task force, told reporters Tuesday.

The DPJ also placed under the task force an action group called Let's Change Japan with Women's Dynamism.

DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama pointed out that the party has not garnered support among female voters, adding that winning their votes is a key task.

According to DPJ studies, women are not drawn to the party because its prominent figures are mostly men, and it has no specific policies related to women or children.

The DPJ's frequent alliances with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in local elections and its image as a party influenced by labor unions also alienate women, DPJ officials said.

Some members of the task force have expressed concern that other parties could steal the DPJ's thunder by placing women in prominent positions to attract female voters.

One long-term fear is that the LDP might promote a popular female figure such as Makiko Tanaka or Seiko Noda, both LDP Lower House members, to a powerful government position.

The DPJ plans to launch a campaign to encourage female voter support starting today, which is International Women's Day.

The task force is expected to visit women's organizations around the country as well as electoral districts where female DPJ candidates plan to run, the officials said.

The DPJ is expected to espouse policies attractive to female voters, such as allowing married couples to have different family names, taking measures against domestic violence and providing for child care facilities.