Opposition leader Shinzo Abe of Leberal Democratic Party acknowledges to supporters during parliamentary elections campaign in Fukushima, Japan, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012.
Opposition leader Shinzo Abe of Leberal Democratic Party acknowledges to supporters during parliamentary elections campaign in Fukushima, Japan, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda launches his campaign in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture 
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda launches his campaign in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture 
Former Tokyo Governor and Japan Restoration Party leader Shintaro Ishihara
Former Tokyo Governor and Japan Restoration Party leader Shintaro IshiharaAround 1,500 candidates kicked off their campaigns on Tuesday for the 480 lower house seats being contested in the poll on December 16.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, head of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), pitched for voter support in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, just south of the crippled nuclear power plant.
Shinzo Abe, who leads the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was in Fukushima city, 50 kilometers away from Fukushima Daiichi, the scene of the world's worst atomic accident in a quarter century.