YOKOHAMA -- The last-minute candidacy of Yoko Tajima, a former House of Councilors lawmaker and celebrated feminist scholar, in the April 13 Kanagawa gubernatorial election has added a new wrinkle into an already crowded field.

Seven candidates are vying to fill the shoes of Gov. Hiroshi Okazaki, who is retiring after filling out his second term.

They are Tajima, Ichiro Asukata, Ryoichi Takarada, Shigefumi Matsuzawa, Seiko Yoshimura, Kenjiro Endo and Setsuko Yamamoto.