epa03774569 Japan\'s Prime Minister and leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party Shinzo Abe speaks to voters from the roof of a campaign van in Tokyo, Japan, 04 July 2013. Official campaigning kicked off for Japan\'s upper house election, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe\'s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) vowing to regain control of the upper house of the parliament. Abe, who took office in late December, pledged to restore stability to Japanese politics by winning the 21 July election for the House of Councillors, where his party is currently in the minority, despite holding the powerful lower house. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON (credit:EPA時事)
epa03772504 New Komeito party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi speaks during a debate at Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Japan, 03 July 2013. Natsuo Yamaguchi \nparticipated in a debate with Japanese Prime Minister and leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Shinzo Abe (not pictured) and other party leaders ahead of the 21 July upper house election with the official campaign kicking off on 04 July. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON (credit:EPA時事)
epa03772510 Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii speaks during a debate at Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Japan, 03 July 2013. Kazuo Shii participated in a debate with Japanese Prime Minister and leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Shinzo Abe (not pictured) and other party leaders ahead of the 21 July upper house election with the official campaign kicking off on 04 July. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON (credit: EPA時事)