Political parties in Japan are in the midst of a campaign to lure voters in the July 29 Upper House contest. The election, officially called last Thursday, the first nationwide poll since Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's goverment was formed in late April, will be the first chance for the nation to pass judgment on his performance.
Even though three months have passed since he came to power, Koizumi still enjoys high approval ratings, which are likely to remain around 80 percent through election day.
It appears almost certain, therefore, that the three coalition parties -- the Liberal Democrats, the New Komeito and the New Conservatives -- together will gain more seats than the opposition, the Democratic Party, the Communist Party, the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party.