Campaigning begins for Oct 22 election; 1,176 register candidacies

Makes for a very effective scarecrow, if nothing else.

the ruling coalition must not lose out to opposition parties that "have built up power just for the election."

... the election called by the ring-leader of the coalition for no other real reason than that the opposition parties appeared to have no show of putting up much of a fight.

Snap elections are pretty useless for the people.

Why can't Abe just conduct his policies for a full term, and then ask the people to judge the results?

Oh silly me! That would mean he actually has to enact some policies, rather than just talk about enacting some policies, reshuffling his cabinet, going on overseas trips, and then calling snap elections.

The LDP leadership's penchant for calling snap elections when it appears politically expediate for them to do so is good enough reason to kick these clowns out of office. They never get anything done, anyway, right.

Abe instantly going after the farmer vote.

"Recovery is moving forward without a doubt,"

Yeah... so he's been saying, without progress, for quite a long time with COMPLETE doubt!

"Recovery is moving forward without a doubt,"

Yeah, moving forward in the opposite direction. He doesn't care about Fukushima except for getting their vote.

Very clever of him to give a speech in the middle of nowhere where he can choose the people and make sure no hecklers turn up. Going back to Akihabara anytime soon?

@marcelito. Understand what you mean about bodyguards. Recently visited Kyoto. Saw about 400 police lining the street from my hotel to a restaurant near Gosho. I thought the tenon was in Kyoto, but it was just Abe.

To me, it's like Mao Zedong when he was in 'his' first Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution.

Nice photo, looks like he standing before a wind struck barren environment.

So that's why the LDP big shots were in Hachioji (where past emperors are buried) today. I had trouble getting through the crowd to the station.

Abe has basically abandoned the Fukushima recovery project! Very shameful to step on ground you haven't been trying to improve yourself!:( You've only been sitting in Tokyo with heavy unesssecary security, and demanding people to follow your orders! Do something with your own sweat and tears!!

Field of Abe's dreams "Lie, and they will vote".

Who are those people listening? Where do they come from? It looks like a rural area, but it seems most of the people in photo dress like Tokyo salarymen. Most people in the countryside wear black trousers and white shirts only for weddings and funerals, but they have jackets as well.

Could the audience have been imported from Tokyo or some other large city?

Huge crowds. Biggest numbers ever. What a turnout.

The LDP should win a simple majority, but will lost their 2/3rds super-majority, which Abe needs to push through legislation that he wants.

He should resign either way!

"Ok, we'll build the fallout shelter here - should be far enough away from Tokyo"

The best part of this story is the wonderful Japanese election rules for short, limited campaigns.

Who is sick of the endless political campaigns in the US? If you are, vote this comment up. If you love the constant bickering and relentless nonsense of US politics, vote it down.

Abe has said he will resign if his Liberal Democratic Party and its smaller coalition partner Komeito do not win an overall majority with a combined 233 seats.

Fingers crossed fingers crossed...

The people of Tohoku haven’t forgiven Abe for Reconstruction Minister Imamura’s appallingly insensitive gaffe that it was good the earthquake struck there and not the capital. Nor have they forgotten Reconstruction Agency official Mutai for that time he had some underling piggyback him around a flood devastated part of the north. If the people do decide to dump on the Abe circus at the upcoming election, the callous insensitivity of such born-to-rule flunkys will have played a major role.

That first photo makes him look outstanding in his field.

If Abe is helpless, then Koike is hopeless. Both are light weight.

A great place for him to field some questions.

Call me conservative, but I like what works and so far Mr. Abe and the LDP have kept the country moving forward and I just do not see that from the new Koike party but it sure reminds me of the old guard who has deep ties to China..that is concerning for me.