The Democratic Party of Japan will publish an English version of its latest platform to promote its policies worldwide, sources said Friday.
The DPJ and other parties have already published campaign pledges in English on their Web sites, but this will be the first time a party has issued a print version of its platform in English.
The DPJ performed strongly in the House of Councilors election earlier this month.
The party will print 1,000 copies of the 49-page booklet before DPJ President Katsuya Okada heads to the United States on Tuesday for a five-day visit, a party official said.
During the visit, Okada will participate in the Democratic National Convention and meet ranking officials of the administration of President George W. Bush, including Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, to discuss Japan-U.S. relations.
Okada will hand out the booklets during his visit. They will also be made available to foreign correspondents and embassies in Japan.
"It will be handy for us to have an English version of our manifesto when explaining and promoting our policies to non-Japanese interested parties," the DPJ official said, noting the DPJ is drawing increasing interest in the U.S. after scoring big gains in the Upper House election earlier this month.