Tokyo, Jan. 27 -- Campaigning for Japan's Feb. 8 snap general election officially kicked off across the country on Tuesday with all 465 seats in the House of Representatives up for contest.
The primary focus of the election is whether the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) will secure a majority and allow the administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to continue, or whether the opposition will expand its strength and block that outcome.
Of the 465 lower house seats, 289 will be elected from single-member districts and 176 through proportional representation in 11 regional blocs. National broadcaster NHK said more than 1,200 candidates are expected to run. The NHK predicts that...