New Komeito's Matsu fills seat vacated by LDP's Kobayashi

New Komeito's Matsu fills seat vacated by LDP's Kobayashi

YOKOHAMA, Japan - New Komeito member Akira Matsu speaks during a news conference in Yokohama on Sept. 7 after being formally moved up to fill the House of Councillors seat vacated by Yutaka Kobayashi, who resigned earlier this week over an alleged election violation by his staff. Matsu had lost her seat as the runner-up in the Kanagawa constituency in which three seats were contested.

LDP lawmaker Kobayashi resigns over alleged election fraud

LDP lawmaker Kobayashi resigns over alleged election fraud

TOKYO, Japan - File photo of Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Yutaka Kobayashi, who resigned Sept. 4 as a House of Councillors member to take responsibility for an alleged election violation by his staff in the July 29 upper house election.

LDP lawmaker Kobayashi resigns over alleged election fraud

LDP lawmaker Kobayashi resigns over alleged election fraud

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Yutaka Kobayashi confronts the press during a news conference in Yokohama on Sept. 4 after resigning as a House of Councillors member to take responsibility for the indictment of his staff over an alleged election violation in the July 29 upper house campaign.

LDP lawmaker Kobayashi resigns over alleged election fraud

LDP lawmaker Kobayashi resigns over alleged election fraud

TOKYO, Japan - File photo of Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Yutaka Kobayashi, who resigned Sept. 4 as a House of Councillors member to take responsibility for an alleged election violation by his staff in the July 29 upper house election. (Kyodo)

LDP lawmaker Kobayashi resigns over alleged election fraud

LDP lawmaker Kobayashi resigns over alleged election fraud

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Yutaka Kobayashi confronts the press during a news conference in Yokohama on Sept. 4 after resigning as a House of Councillors member to take responsibility for the indictment of his staff over an alleged election violation in the July 29 upper house campaign. (Kyodo)

New Komeito's Matsu fills seat vacated by LDP's Kobayashi

New Komeito's Matsu fills seat vacated by LDP's Kobayashi

YOKOHAMA, Japan - New Komeito member Akira Matsu speaks during a news conference in Yokohama on Sept. 7 after being formally moved up to fill the House of Councillors seat vacated by Yutaka Kobayashi, who resigned earlier this week over an alleged election violation by his staff. Matsu had lost her seat as the runner-up in the Kanagawa constituency in which three seats were contested. (Kyodo)