Japanese Major Political Parties Have Gone Into Election Footing

An elderly woman walks by candidates’ poster boards for parliamentary elections, left, and Tokyo Gubernatorial election in Tokyo Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. Leaders for Japan’s biggest political parties kicked off Tuesday the campaign for parliamentary elections to be held in less than two weeks with visits to nuclear crisis-hit Fukushima prefecture. <AP/NEWSis/Koji Sasahara>

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan delivers his speech during parliamentary elections campaign in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. Leaders for Japan’s biggest political parties are kicking off the campaign for parliamentary elections to be held in less than two weeks with visits to nuclear crisis-hit Fukushima prefecture. <AP/NEWSis/Kyodo News>