The surprise resignation of Makiko Tanaka from the Lower House means more problems for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, already facing an uphill battle in key Diet by-elections in October.
With Tanaka's resignation, there will now be six by-elections on Oct. 27. They will fill the voids in the Niigata No. 5, Yamagata No. 4, Kanagawa No. 8. and Osaka No. 10 districts of the Lower House, plus the Chiba and Tottori constituencies of the Upper House.
The LDP has thus far only been able to decide on a candidate for the Chiba election.