3 candidates attend public debate for presidential election

3 candidates attend public debate for presidential election

TOKYO, Japan - Three candidacies for the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election acknowledge the audience's applause after their debate for the Sept. 28 election at the party's headquarters on Sept. 24, 2009. (From R to L) are former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, former Senior Vice Justice Minister Taro Kono and former Parliamentary Vice Foreign Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura.

3 men to run for Nago mayor

3 men to run for Nago mayor

NAGO, Japan - Three men filed their candidacies Jan. 15 for the upcoming mayoral election in Nago, where the major issue for the Okinawa Prefecture city is whether it should host the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Futemma Air Station. The three vying to succeed retiring Mayor Tateo Kishimoto are (file photos from L to R) Yoshikazu Shimabukuro, 59, backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito party, Munehiro Gakiya, 59, an independent, and Yoshitami Oshiro, 65, supported by the Democratic Party of Japan, Japanese Communist Party and Social Democratic Party.

3 DPJ presidential candidates kick off campaigning

3 DPJ presidential candidates kick off campaigning

TOKYO, Japan - Three candidates in the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leadership election shake hands at a Tokyo hotel Sept. 11 after filing their candidacies. They are Takahiro Yokomichi, incumbent leader Naoto Kan, and Yukio Hatoyama (from left to right). A total of 321 people are eligible to vote in the Sept. 25 election.

LDP presidential candidates meet

LDP presidential candidates meet

Three candidates for the presidency of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) -- Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi (L), Health and Welfare Minister Junichiro Koizumi (C) and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiroku Kajiyama -- shake hands after their joint press conference July 21. The press conference was held at LDP headquarters in Tokyo after the three filed their candidacies for Friday's election.

3 men to run for Nago mayor

3 men to run for Nago mayor

NAGO, Japan - Three men filed their candidacies Jan. 15 for the upcoming mayoral election in Nago, where the major issue for the Okinawa Prefecture city is whether it should host the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Futemma Air Station. The three vying to succeed retiring Mayor Tateo Kishimoto are (file photos from L to R) Yoshikazu Shimabukuro, 59, backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito party, Munehiro Gakiya, 59, an independent, and Yoshitami Oshiro, 65, supported by the Democratic Party of Japan, Japanese Communist Party and Social Democratic Party. (Kyodo)

Osaka gubernatorial race kicks off

Osaka gubernatorial race kicks off

People in the city of Osaka listen to a speech by a candidate in the Osaka gubernatorial race, which kicked off on Nov. 5, 2015. Three people, including incumbent Ichiro Matsui, filed candidacies for the Nov. 22 election. The mayoral race of Osaka will also be voted on the same day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Osaka gubernatorial race kicks off

Osaka gubernatorial race kicks off

People in the city of Osaka listen to a speech by a candidate in the Osaka gubernatorial race, which kicked off on Nov. 5, 2015. Three people, including incumbent Ichiro Matsui, filed candidacies for the Nov. 22 election. The mayoral race of Osaka will also be voted on the same day. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

3 DPJ presidential candidates kick off campaigning

3 DPJ presidential candidates kick off campaigning

TOKYO, Japan - Three candidates in the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leadership election shake hands at a Tokyo hotel Sept. 11 after filing their candidacies. They are Takahiro Yokomichi, incumbent leader Naoto Kan, and Yukio Hatoyama (from left to right). A total of 321 people are eligible to vote in the Sept. 25 election.

3 candidates attend public debate for presidential election

3 candidates attend public debate for presidential election

TOKYO, Japan - Three candidacies for the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election acknowledge the audience's applause after their debate for the Sept. 28 election at the party's headquarters on Sept. 24, 2009. (From R to L) are former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, former Senior Vice Justice Minister Taro Kono and former Parliamentary Vice Foreign Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura. (Kyodo)

LDP presidential candidates meet

LDP presidential candidates meet

Three candidates for the presidency of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) -- Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi (L), Health and Welfare Minister Junichiro Koizumi (C) and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiroku Kajiyama -- shake hands after their joint press conference July 21. The press conference was held at LDP headquarters in Tokyo after the three filed their candidacies for Friday's election.