So far, 922 people have said they will run in the upcoming Lower House general election in which all 480 seats will be up for grabs.
The Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan will face off in 258 of the 300 single-seat districts across Japan, but neither is likely to win the 241 seats needed for a majority and the winner will have to build a coalition to hold power.
Analysts say the focus will be on which of the two major parties will take the largest share of seats in the first general election since Sept. 11, 2005.