This via the Nikkei on the issues, the parties, who is likely to win

Link: Seven things to know about Japan's next lower house election

A new center of gravity in the opposition appears to be forming around a new group led by reform-minded Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, the first woman to hold that office

  • In July, her camp replaced the LDP as the biggest force in the Tokyo assembly
  • Now Koike has established a national party, the Party of Hope, which bills itself as "centrist" and "tolerant" but has yet to fully clarify its policies
  • Will Koike's party bring about a realignment of the opposition? The emergence of Koike as a foil to Abe has raised hopes among the prime minister's opponents that her party can unify the opposition. The Party of Hope is already attracting people from other parties, including both LDP members unhappy with Abe and Democratic Party members.

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  • Election is October 22
  • 465 seats up for grabs in the lower house
  • Currently (well, until today I guess) the ruling LDP had 287 seats & its partner 35 (Komeito)