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Japan general election eve

ABASHIRI, Japan - Kenko Matsuki, acting leader of the New Party Daichi, makes a stump speech in Abashiri, Hokkaido, on Dec. 15, 2012, on the eve of the general election.

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Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - Combination photo shows (top column, from R to L) Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, president of the Democratic Party of Japan, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, president of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, Yukiko Kada, head of the Tomorrow Party of Japan, Natsuo Yamaguchi, head of the New Komeito party, (center column, from R to L) former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, head of the Japan Restoration Party, Kazuo Shii, head of the Japanese Communist Party, Yoshimi Watanabe, head of Your Party, Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social Democratic Party, (bottom column, from R to L) Kenko Matsuki, acting leader of the New Party Daichi, Shozaburo Jimi, head of the People's New Party, Yasuo Tanaka, head of the New Party Nippon, and Yoichi Masuzoe, head of the New Renaissance Party, while making stump speeches at various locations across the country on Dec. 4, 2012, as official campaigning kicked off the same day for the Dec. 16 general election.

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Japan general election

KITAMI, Japan - Kenko Matsuki, acting leader of the New Party Daichi, makes a stump speech in Kitami, Hokkaido, on Dec. 4, 2012, after official campaigning began for the Dec. 16, 2012, general election. Party leader Muneo Suzuki cannot engage in election campaigns because his civil rights have been suspended following his conviction for bribery.

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Japan general election

KITAMI, Japan - Kenko Matsuki, acting leader of the New Party Daichi, makes a stump speech in Kitami, Hokkaido, on Dec. 4, 2012, after official campaigning began for the Dec. 16, 2012, general election. Party leader Muneo Suzuki cannot engage in election campaigns because his civil rights have been suspended following his conviction for bribery.

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New parliamentary secretary at farm ministry

TOKYO, Japan - House of Representatives member Koichi Yoshida (L) smiles after accepting an appointment to the post of parliamentary secretary at the farm ministry, replacing Kenko Matsuki, who resigned in protest against the leadership of Prime Minister Naoto Kan (R), at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 25, 2011.

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DPJ lawmaker to leave gov't post

TOKYO, Japan - Kenko Matsuki (C), a Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker, sits down at a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2011. He tendered his resignation as a parliamentary secretary at the farm ministry the same day in protest at Prime Minister Naoto Kan's leadership.

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DPJ lawmaker to leave gov't post

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Naoto Kan closes his eyes during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2011. Kenko Matsuki, a Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker, tendered his resignation as a parliamentary secretary at the farm ministry the same day in protest at Kan's leadership.

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DPJ lawmaker to leave gov't post

TOKYO, Japan - Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Katsuya Okada speaks during a press conference at the DPJ headquarters in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2011. Kenko Matsuki, a DPJ lawmaker, tendered his resignation as a parliamentary secretary at the farm ministry the same day in protest at Prime Minister Naoto Kan's leadership, but Okada criticized his decision, saying he should have shown more resolve in taking up the post to do important work for the benefit of the people.

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DPJ lawmaker to leave gov't post

TOKYO, Japan - Kenko Matsuki, a Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker and a parliamentary secretary at the farm ministry, speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2011. Matsuki, a close ally to DPJ bigwig Ichiro Ozawa, tendered his resignation the same day in protest at Prime Minister Naoto Kan's leadership.

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DPJ lawmaker to leave gov't post

TOKYO, Japan - Kenko Matsuki, a Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker and a parliamentary secretary at the farm ministry, is seen inside a car in Tokyo on Feb. 23, 2011. Matsuki reportedly conveyed his intention to resign from the post to Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

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DPJ lawmaker Matsuki at press conference

TOKYO, Japan - Kenko Matsuki, a Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker and a parliamentary secretary at the farm ministry, speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 23, 2011. Matsuki said he will hand in his resignation to Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Feb. 24.

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New parliamentary secretary at farm ministry

TOKYO, Japan - House of Representatives member Koichi Yoshida (L) smiles after accepting an appointment to the post of parliamentary secretary at the farm ministry, replacing Kenko Matsuki, who resigned in protest against the leadership of Prime Minister Naoto Kan (R), at the premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 25, 2011. (Kyodo)

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DPJ lawmaker to leave gov't post

TOKYO, Japan - Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Katsuya Okada speaks during a press conference at the DPJ headquarters in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2011. Kenko Matsuki, a DPJ lawmaker, tendered his resignation as a parliamentary secretary at the farm ministry the same day in protest at Prime Minister Naoto Kan's leadership, but Okada criticized his decision, saying he should have shown more resolve in taking up the post to do important work for the benefit of the people. (Kyodo)

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DPJ lawmaker to leave gov't post

TOKYO, Japan - Kenko Matsuki (C), a Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker, sits down at a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2011. He tendered his resignation as a parliamentary secretary at the farm ministry the same day in protest at Prime Minister Naoto Kan's leadership. (Kyodo)

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DPJ lawmaker to leave gov't post

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Naoto Kan closes his eyes during a plenary session of the House of Representatives in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2011. Kenko Matsuki, a Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker, tendered his resignation as a parliamentary secretary at the farm ministry the same day in protest at Kan's leadership. (Kyodo)

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DPJ lawmaker to leave gov't post

TOKYO, Japan - Kenko Matsuki, a Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker and a parliamentary secretary at the farm ministry, speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2011. Matsuki, a close ally to DPJ bigwig Ichiro Ozawa, tendered his resignation the same day in protest at Prime Minister Naoto Kan's leadership. (Kyodo)

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DPJ lawmaker to leave gov't post

TOKYO, Japan - Kenko Matsuki, a Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker and a parliamentary secretary at the farm ministry, is seen inside a car in Tokyo on Feb. 23, 2011. Matsuki reportedly conveyed his intention to resign from the post to Prime Minister Naoto Kan. (Kyodo)

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DPJ lawmaker Matsuki at press conference

TOKYO, Japan - Kenko Matsuki, a Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker and a parliamentary secretary at the farm ministry, speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 23, 2011. Matsuki said he will hand in his resignation to Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Feb. 24. (Kyodo)