A total of 367 candidates are scheduled to run in the next Upper House election, which is expected to be held July 21, with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, aiming to secure the 129 seats needed for a stable majority in the 242-seat body, the latest Kyodo News tally shows.
The LDP, headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and New Komeito — which together hold 59 Upper House seats that will not be contested in the upcoming poll — need to win 70 seats out of 121 up for grabs to ensure the safe majority.
Any ruling bloc with 129 seats or more will secure all of the Upper House's top posts on standing committees as well as half of those committees' members.