Democratic Party of Japan Vice President Katsuya Okada and DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama declared Wednesday they will enter the race to replace President Ichiro Ozawa, who announced his resignation earlier in the week under a cloud of scandal.
The election Saturday is likely to be a one-on-one battle. Both have led the party before, but if the DPJ wins the next Lower House election as it was favored to earlier this year, the president would likely become prime minister.
"I plan on declaring my candidacy for the presidential election" on Thursday, Okada said, adding that he is confident he can lead the DPJ to victory and finally knock the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc out of power.