Green Wind's leader to step down

Green Wind's leader to step down

NAGOYA, Japan - Kuniko Tanioka, head of the opposition Green Wind party, holds a press conference in Nagoya on July 22, 2013. Tanioka said she will step down as leader and retire from politics after losing her parliamentary seat in the previous day's House of Councillors election. All of the party's four upper house members lost their Diet seats.

Upper house election in Japan

Upper house election in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Photo series shows leaders of Japanese political parties campaigning on July 20, 2013, the day before the upper house election. They are (top row, from L) Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of the New Komeito party; Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who leads the Liberal Democratic Party; Banri Kaieda, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan; (middle row, from L) Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii; Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the People's Life Party; Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe; (bottom row, from L) Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who doubles as co-leader of the Japan Restoration Party; Kuniko Tanioka, leader of the Green Wind party; and Mizuho Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party.

Upper house election in Japan

Upper house election in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Kuniko Tanioka, leader of the Green Wind party, makes a stump speech in Tokyo's Asakusa district on July 4, 2013, the day official campaigning started for the July 21 upper house election that will be a key test of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's leadership over the past seven months.

Party leaders' debate

Party leaders' debate

TOKYO, Japan - Political party chiefs join hands before a debate on their policies in Tokyo on July 3, 2013, ahead of the July 21 House of Councillors election. From left are Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima, People's Life Party leader Ichiro Ozawa, New Komeito party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi, Democratic Party of Japan leader Banri Kaieda, Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe, Japan Restoration Party co-leader Toru Hashimoto, Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe, Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii and Green Wind party head Kuniko Tanioka.

Party leaders' debate

Party leaders' debate

TOKYO, Japan - Political party chiefs join hands before a debate on their policies in Tokyo on July 3, 2013, ahead of the July 21 House of Councillors election. From left are Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima, People's Life Party leader Ichiro Ozawa, New Komeito party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi, Democratic Party of Japan leader Banri Kaieda, Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe, Japan Restoration Party co-leader Toru Hashimoto, Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe, Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii and Green Wind party head Kuniko Tanioka.

Online debate between party leaders

Online debate between party leaders

TOKYO, Japan - Kuniko Tanioka, leader of the opposition Green Wind party, takes part in a debate, broadcast by the Nico Nico Douga live streaming website, in Tokyo's Roppongi area on the night of June 28, 2013, ahead of the July 21 House of Councillors election.

Online debate between party leaders

Online debate between party leaders

TOKYO, Japan - Kuniko Tanioka, leader of the opposition Green Wind party, takes part in a debate, broadcast by the Nico Nico Douga live streaming website, in Tokyo's Roppongi area on the night of June 28, 2013, ahead of the July 21 House of Councillors election. (Kyodo)