While the sensitive issue of constitutional revision and the looming consumption tax hike to 10 percent in October dominate media discussion of what's important in the Upper House election Sunday, there are other problems and issues, some especially acute in the Kansai region, that shouldn't be forgotten. Here are four that have been mentioned by candidates of all parties:
'Tourism pollution'
That's the literal translation of the Japanese term used by media outlets, politicians and businesses to describe the fact that the streets of many cities across the country are clogged with tourists whose manners and behavior are irritating, if not downright angering, residents.