NAGOYA (Kyodo) Official campaigning kicked off Friday for the Nagoya Municipal Assembly poll, a month after residents voted to dissolve the local body that had rejected Mayor Takashi Kawamura's radical pledges, which include a tax cut and halving members' salaries.
With 138 candidates vying for 75 seats, the March 13 election is expected to be a battle between Kawamura's Genzei Nippon (Tax Cut Japan) group and established political parties, including the Democratic Party of Japan and Liberal Democratic Party.
The outcome will be closely watched because of its possible impact on upcoming nationwide local elections in April and on the central government under Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who heads the DPJ.