The Democratic Party of Japan has tapped Upper House member Hajime Ishii to be its election campaign chief and Goshi Hosono of the Lower House to head the party's Corporate and External Organizations Committee.
The party also appointed Azuma Koshiishi, head of the DPJ's Upper House caucus, to serve concurrently as deputy secretary general.
The appointments were announced by party Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa at a news conference at the DPJ's headquarters Wednesday.
The party has installed several Upper House members in key posts as it prepares for the chamber's poll next summer.
The DPJ, which took power in the Lower House in August, is aiming to secure a majority in the upper chamber, where it currently controls a majority with help from two minor parties: the Social Democratic Party and Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party).