Although no date has been set for the next general election for the House of Representatives, the ruling and opposition parties have already decided to field a total of 811 candidates, believing it will be held this year.
According to a Kyodo News survey, 723 people will probably be fielded as candidates in 300 single-seat constituencies and another 88 may run in the proportional representation section. Many of the 723 single-seat candidates will also run for proportional representation seats.
Current Lower House members still have about 18 months of their terms remaining, but some politicians are speculating that the Lower House will be dissolved sometime this year.