As Makiko Tanaka and Koichi Kato try to stage their political comebacks, voters in their districts appear to have dismissed the money scandals that forced them out of the Diet and instead believe they can change politics for the better.
People in the Niigata No. 5 electoral district have faith that the outspoken Tanaka, 59, can bring politics closer to them, while voters in the Yamagata No. 3 are eager to see Kato, 64, help revive the ailing local economy.
Tanaka, a former foreign minister and daughter of the late Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, officially cut her ties with the Liberal Democratic Party last week and is running as an independent, vowing to seek a political realignment with other independents.