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Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - Leaders of Japan's major political parties join hands before a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 30, 2012, ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election. From L are Shozaburo Jimi of the People's New Party, Mizuho Fukushima of the Social Democratic Party, Kazuo Shii of the Japanese Communist Party, Natsuo Yamaguchi of the New Komeito party, Shinzo Abe of the Liberal Democratic Party, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of the Democratic Party of Japan, Yukiko Kada of Nippon Mirai no To (Japan Future Party), Shintaro Ishihara of the Japan Restoration Party, Yoshimi Watanabe of Your Party, Muneo Suzuki of the New Party Daichi and Yoichi Masuzoe of the New Renaissance Party.

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Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - Leaders of some of Japan's major political parties join hands before a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 30, 2012, ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election. From L are Natsuo Yamaguchi of the New Komeito party, Shinzo Abe of the Liberal Democratic Party, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of the Democratic Party of Japan, Yukiko Kada of Nippon Mirai no To (Japan Future Party), Shintaro Ishihara of the Japan Restoration Party and Yoshimi Watanabe of Your Party.

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Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - Leaders of Japan's 10 major political parties pose for photos after a debate in Tokyo on Nov. 29, 2012, on the Nico Nico Douga webcast site ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election.

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Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - (From L) Main opposition Liberal Democratic Party head Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister and Democratic Party of Japan President Yoshihiko Noda and Shiga Gov. Yukiko Kada, leader of Nippon Mirai no To (Japan Future Party), take part in a debate in Tokyo on Nov. 29, 2012, on the Nico Nico Douga webcast site ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election.

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Japan general election

TOKYO, Japan - Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara (L) and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto hold a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 29, 2012, as they announced election pledges for their party, the Japan Restoration Party, ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election.

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Tokyo gubernatorial election

TOKYO, Japan - Tokyo gubernatorial election candidate Naoki Inose, vice Tokyo governor, makes a stump speech in front of JR Shinjuku Station in Tokyo on Nov. 29, 2012, as official campaigning began that day for the Dec. 16, 2012, election.

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Tokyo gubernatorial election

TOKYO, Japan - Tokyo gubernatorial election candidate Shigefumi Matsuzawa, former Kanagawa governor, makes a stump speech in the Nihombashi area of Tokyo on Nov. 29, 2012, as official campaigning began that day for the Dec. 16, 2012, election.

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Tokyo gubernatorial election

TOKYO, Japan - Tokyo gubernatorial election candidate Takashi Sasagawa, a retired lawmaker of the Liberal Democratic Party, makes a stump speech in the Asakusa area of Tokyo on Nov. 29, 2012, as official campaigning began that day for the Dec. 16, 2012, election.

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Tokyo gubernatorial election

TOKYO, Japan - Tokyo gubernatorial election candidate Kenji Utsunomiya, former head of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, makes a stump speech in the Yurakucho area of Tokyo on Nov. 29, 2012, as official campaigning began that day for the Dec. 16, 2012, election.

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Ex-Finance Minister Fujii to retire from politics

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in June 2010 shows former Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan. Fujii will retire from politics without running in the Dec. 16 general election, sources close to the legislator said Nov. 29, 2012.

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Japan general election

OTSU, Japan - Shiga Gov. Yukiko Kada answers reporters' questions at the prefectural hall in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, on Nov. 29, 2012. She formed a new party, Nippon Mirai no To (Japan Future Party), the previous day ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election, calling for phasing out Japan's reliance on nuclear power within 10 years.

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Tokyo gubernatorial election

TOKYO, Japan - Shigefumi Matsuzawa, a former governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, speaks as a candidate for the Tokyo gubernatorial election at a joint press conference with other candidates at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 28, 2012, before official campaigning for the Dec. 16 election begins the following day.

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Tokyo gubernatorial election

TOKYO, Japan - Takashi Sasagawa, a retired lawmaker who formerly headed the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party's General Council, speaks as a candidate for the Tokyo gubernatorial election at a joint press conference with other candidates at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 28, 2012, before official campaigning for the Dec. 16 election begins the following day.

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Tokyo gubernatorial election

TOKYO, Japan - Tokyo Vice Gov. Naoki Inose speaks as a candidate for the Tokyo gubernatorial election at a joint press conference with other candidates at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 28, 2012, before official campaigning for the Dec. 16 election begins the following day.

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Tokyo gubernatorial election

TOKYO, Japan - Kenji Utsunomiya, former president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, speaks as a candidate for the Tokyo gubernatorial election at a joint press conference with other candidates at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 28, 2012, before official campaigning for the Dec. 16 election begins the following day.

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Tokyo gubernatorial election

TOKYO, Japan - Candidates for the Tokyo gubernatorial election -- (from L) Shigefumi Matsuzawa, a former governor of adjacent Kanagawa Prefecture, Kenji Utsunomiya, former president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, Tokyo Vice Gov. Naoki Inose and Takashi Sasagawa, a retired lawmaker who formerly headed the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party's General Council -- hold a joint press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 28, 2012, before official campaigning for the Dec. 16 election begins the following day.

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Tokyo gubernatorial election

TOKYO, Japan - Candidates for the Tokyo gubernatorial election -- (from L) Shigefumi Matsuzawa, a former governor of adjacent Kanagawa Prefecture, Kenji Utsunomiya, former president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, Tokyo Vice Gov. Naoki Inose and Takashi Sasagawa, a retired lawmaker who formerly headed the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party's General Council -- hold a joint press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 28, 2012, before official campaigning for the Dec. 16 election begins the following day.

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Tokyo gubernatorial election

TOKYO, Japan - Candidates for the Tokyo gubernatorial election -- (from L) Shigefumi Matsuzawa, a former governor of adjacent Kanagawa Prefecture, Kenji Utsunomiya, former president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, Tokyo Vice Gov. Naoki Inose and Takashi Sasagawa, a retired lawmaker who formerly headed the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party's General Council -- join hands at a press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Nov. 28, 2012, before official campaigning for the Dec. 16 election begins the following day.

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Antinuclear power party

TOKYO, Japan - Tetsunari Iida, acting leader of Nippon Mirai no To (Japan Future Party), answers reporters' questions in Tokyo on Nov. 28, 2012, after submitting an application to formally register a group of Shiga Gov. Yukiko Kada, which calls for the gradual phasing out of nuclear power, as a political party, ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election.

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Antinuclear power party

OTSU, Japan - Shiga Gov. Yukiko Kada speaks with reporters in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, on Nov. 28, 2012. The governor formally launched her new political party, Nippon Mirai no To (Japan Future Party), earlier in the day, which calls for the gradual phasing out of nuclear power, ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election.

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Antinuclear power party

OTSU, Japan - Shiga Gov. Yukiko Kada speaks with reporters in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, on Nov. 28, 2012. The governor formally launched her new political party, Nippon Mirai no To (Japan Future Party), earlier in the day, which calls for the gradual phasing out of nuclear power, ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election.

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Antinuclear power party

OTSU, Japan - Shiga Gov. Yukiko Kada speaks with reporters in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, on Nov. 28, 2012. The governor formally launched her new political party, Nippon Mirai no To (Japan Future Party), earlier in the day, which calls for the gradual phasing out of nuclear power, ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election.

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Anti-nuclear power party

OTSU, Japan - Shiga Gov. Yukiko Kada is surrounded by reporters in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, on Nov. 28, 2012. The governor announced the previous day her plan to form a new party, Nippon Mirai no To (Japan Future Party), calling for the gradual phasing out of nuclear power, ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election.

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Anti-nuclear power party

OTSU, Japan - Shiga Gov. Yukiko Kada is surrounded by reporters in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, on Nov. 28, 2012. The governor announced the previous day her plan to form a new party, Nippon Mirai no To (Japan Future Party), calling for the gradual phasing out of nuclear power, ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election.

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Anti-nuclear power party

OTSU, Japan - Shiga Gov. Yukiko Kada is surrounded by reporters in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, on Nov. 28, 2012. The governor announced the previous day her plan to form a new party, Nippon Mirai no To (Japan Future Party), calling for the gradual phasing out of nuclear power, ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election.

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Noda announces election pledges

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announces his Democratic Party of Japan's pledges at the DPJ headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho district on Nov. 27, 2012. In the pledges released ahead of the Dec. 16 House of Representatives election, the ruling party promised to phase out nuclear energy in the 2030s and fight deflation by cooperating with the Bank of Japan.

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Noda announces election pledges

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announces his Democratic Party of Japan's pledges at the DPJ headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho district on Nov. 27, 2012. In the pledges released ahead of the Dec. 16 House of Representatives election, the ruling party promised to phase out nuclear energy in the 2030s and fight deflation by cooperating with the Bank of Japan.

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Noda announces election pledges

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announces his Democratic Party of Japan's pledges at the DPJ headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho district on Nov. 27, 2012. In the pledges released ahead of the Dec. 16 House of Representatives election, the ruling party promised to phase out nuclear energy in the 2030s and fight deflation by cooperating with the Bank of Japan.

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Noda announces election pledges

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announces his Democratic Party of Japan's pledges at the DPJ headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho district on Nov. 27, 2012. In the pledges released ahead of the Dec. 16 House of Representatives election, the ruling party promised to phase out nuclear energy in the 2030s and fight deflation by cooperating with the Bank of Japan.

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Shiga governor arranging to establish new party

OTSU, Japan - The governor of Shiga Prefecture, Yukiko Kada (C back), meets the press at the prefectural government offices in Otsu on Nov. 26, 2012. Kada, who has called for the gradual phasing out of nuclear power, said she is arranging to establish a new political party ahead of the Dec. 16 general election.

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Noda staves off fall from campaign truck

ANJO, Japan - Body guards help Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda stave off a fall from an election campaign truck in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, on Nov. 26, 2012, when Noda was climbing up to the vehicle and a rail he grabbed accidentally came off. Noda later said in a stump speech from the truck ahead of the Dec. 16 general election, "I'm sorry about the accident, but the Democratic Party of Japan will not fall. It will claw its way up."

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Shiga governor arranging to establish new party

OTSU, Japan - The governor of Shiga Prefecture, Yukiko Kada (L), meets the press at the prefectural government offices in Otsu on Nov. 26, 2012. Kada, who has called for the gradual phasing out of nuclear power, said she is arranging to establish a new political party ahead of the Dec. 16 general election.

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Shiga governor arranging to establish new party

OTSU, Japan - The governor of Shiga Prefecture, Yukiko Kada, meets the press at the prefectural government offices in Otsu on Nov. 26, 2012. Kada, who has called for the gradual phasing out of nuclear power, said she is arranging to establish a new political party ahead of the Dec. 16 general election.

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Shiga governor arranging to establish new party

OTSU, Japan - The governor of Shiga Prefecture, Yukiko Kada, meets the press at the prefectural government offices in Otsu on Nov. 26, 2012. Kada, who has called for the gradual phasing out of nuclear power, said she is arranging to establish a new political party ahead of the Dec. 16 general election.

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Abe in stump speech

TSU, Japan - Shinzo Abe, chief of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, makes a stump speech in Tsu, Mie Prefecture, on Nov. 25, 2012, ahead of the Dec. 16 general election.

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Noda in stump speech

OSAKA, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda makes a stump speech in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, on Nov. 25, 2012, ahead of the Dec. 16 general election.

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Noda in stump speech

SAGAMIHARA, Japan - Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda (C) shakes hands with voters after making a stump speech in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Nov. 24, 2012, ahead of the Dec. 16 general election.

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Abe in stump speech

TOKYO, Japan - Shinzo Abe (C), chief of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, shakes hands with voters after making a stump speech in Musashino, Tokyo, on Nov. 24, 2012, ahead of the Dec. 16 general election.

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Noda in stump speech

SAGAMIHARA, Japan - Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda makes a stump speech in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Nov. 24, 2012, ahead of the Dec. 16 general election.

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Noda in stump speech

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda makes a stump speech in Kunitachi, Tokyo, on Nov. 24, 2012, ahead of the Dec. 16 general election.

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Abe in stump speech

TOKYO, Japan - Shinzo Abe, chief of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, makes a stump speech in Musashino, Tokyo, on Nov. 24, 2012, ahead of the Dec. 16 general election.

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2012 Chiba International Ekiden

CHIBA, Japan - Japan anchorwoman Hitomi Niiya crosses the finish line in the Chiba International Ekiden at Chiba Prefectural Sports Center in Chiba Prefecture on Nov. 23, 2012. Japan finished second in 2 hours, 5 minutes, 16 seconds.

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Small parties merger

TOKYO, Japan - Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura (L) and veteran lawmaker Shizuka Kamei jointly hold a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 22, 2012. The pair said they have decided to team up their small political parties ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election.

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Small parties merger

TOKYO, Japan - Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura (L) and veteran lawmaker Shizuka Kamei jointly hold a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 22, 2012. The pair said they have decided to team up their small political parties ahead of the Dec. 16, 2012, general election.

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Ex-PM Hatoyama announces retirement from politics

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in September 2009 shows Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (C, front) and members of his Cabinet posing for photos following their first meeting at the prime minister's office in Tokyo. Hatoyama, who was the first prime minister following the Democratic Party of Japan's ascent to power in 2009, said on Nov. 21, 2012, that he will not run in the Dec. 16 general election for the House of Representatives and will retire from politics.

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Ex-PM Hatoyama announces retirement from politics

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in July 1986 shows Yukio Hatoyama (C, front) celebrating with his wife Miyuki (to the right) and supporters at his campaign office in Muroran, Hokkaido, after winning a House of Representatives seat for the first time. Hatoyama, who was the first prime minister following the Democratic Party of Japan's ascent to power in 2009, said on Nov. 21, 2012, that he will not run in the Dec. 16 general election for the House of Representatives and will retire from politics.

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Ex-PM Hatoyama announces retirement from politics

TOMAKOMAI, Japan - Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan holds a press conference in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, on Nov. 21, 2012. Hatoyama, who was the first prime minister following the DPJ's ascent to power in 2009, said at the press conference he will not run in the Dec. 16 general election for the House of Representatives and will retire from politics.

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Ex-PM Hatoyama announces retirement from politics

TOMAKOMAI, Japan - Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan joins his palms before supporters in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, on Nov. 21, 2012. Hatoyama, who was the first prime minister following the DPJ's ascent to power in 2009, said the same day he will not run in the Dec. 16 general election for the House of Representatives and will retire from politics.

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Ex-PM Hatoyama announces retirement from politics

TOMAKOMAI, Japan - Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (back) of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan bows to supporters in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, on Nov. 21, 2012. Hatoyama, who was the first prime minister following the DPJ's ascent to power in 2009, said the same day he will not run in the Dec. 16 general election for the House of Representatives and will retire from politics.

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LDP releases election pledges

TOKYO, Japan - Shinzo Abe, president of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, releases the party's pledges for Dec. 16's general election for the House of Representatives at a press conference at its headquarters in Tokyo on Nov. 21, 2012.