The heads of Japanese political parties traveled a total of 84,302 kilometers across Japan, equivalent to more than two laps around the Earth, for stump speeches during the 12-day official campaign period for Sunday's general election, according to data announced by the parties.
In the campaign period, which ended Saturday night, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, clocked 14,387 km, longer than any other party leaders.
On Oct. 15, the first day of campaigning, Ishiba kicked off his stumping tour in the city of Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, which was hit hard by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. He made his final campaign speech in the Toyosu district of Tokyo.
Touring around 23 of the country's 47 prefectures, Ishiba vowed to revitalize regional areas and establish a new government agency for disaster prevention and reduction, both of which are his signature policies.
Yoshihiko Noda, chief of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, traveled 12,347 km over the 12 days of campaigning. He visited many constituencies where LDP lawmakers implicated in the party’s slush fund scandal were running, stressing that realizing a change of government is the best way toward political reform.
Nobuyuki Baba, leader of Nippon Ishin no Kai, traveled 8,089 km, mainly touring around the Kanto and Kyushu regions with an aim to develop the party, now active mainly in the Kansai region, into a party with nationwide influence.
Keiichi Ishii, head of LDP coalition partner Komeito, traveled 7,177 km. He visited areas including Saitama Prefecture as he is seen to be neck and neck with an opposition candidate in his constituency in the prefecture.
Japanese Communist Party head Tomoko Tamura ranked second after Ishiba, with 13,504 km. During her nationwide tour, Tamura highlighted the major role her party is playing in grilling the LDP over its slush fund scandal.
Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki, during his campaign tour that spanned 13,340 km, tried to attract young voters with the party's pledge to take measures to increase take-home income.
Social Democratic Party head Mizuho Fukushima and Sanseito chief Sohei Kamiya traveled 5,504 km and 9,954 km, respectively.
Reiwa Shinsengumi did not announce the travel distance of its chief, Taro Yamamoto, during campaigning.
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