Tokyo: Official campaigning in Japan for the July 20 Upper House election kicked off Thursday, giving voters a chance to pass judgment on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's administration. According to Kuwait News Agency, as of 11:30 a.m., a total of 518 individuals had filed their candidacy for the election. Election administration committees across the nation will continue to accept registrations until 5 p.m. A total of 125 of the upper chamber's 248 seats will be contested in the upcoming election, with 75 seats in prefecture-based constituencies and 50 through proportional representation. The primary focus is on whether the ruling coalition, consisting of Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the minor Komeito Party, can secure at least 50 seats to maintain its majority in the 248-seat upper chamber. Notably, half of the seats in the Upper House come up for election every three years for a six-year term. The LDP-Komeito coalition lost its majority in the more powerful Lower House last October. Other focal issues in the 17-day campaigning period include economic measures to combat inflation, such as a consumption tax cut and responses to US President Donald Trump's tariffs. Prime Minister Ishiba, also the LDP President, delivered his first campaign speech in Kobe, western Japan. He emphasized the ruling bloc's commitment to achieving wage increases that surpass price hikes, acknowledging that current price increases are still outpacing wage growth. Ishiba highlighted plans for cash handouts to alleviate the impact of prolonged high prices on those struggling financially. Additionally, Ishiba reiterated that the consumption tax remains a crucial source of funding for essential services, including medical care, pensions, nursing care, and child-rearing initiatives.
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