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The for the upper house of the legislature of Japan were held on July 29, 2007.〔(Japan News Review - Upper House election campaigning sees official kick off )〕〔(Abe has high hopes for Diet session | The Japan Times Online )〕 The date was originally to be July 22, but the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) decided in mid-June to extend the session of the House for a week to finish up legislative business; this step was criticised due to the short-term delay.〔http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200706200072.html〕 The House of Councillors consists of 242 members who serve six-year terms. Approximately half the members are elected every three years. The last election took place in 2004 when Junichiro Koizumi, Abe's predecessor, was in office. The house ended its 166th session on July 5, 2007, marking the unofficial beginning of campaign. The official campaign began on July 12.〔http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20070713TDY01004.htm〕 The ruling coalition of Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito lost control, creating the first divided Diet (opposition control of the House of Councillors) since 1999. The LDP became the second party for the first time, while the DPJ became first party for the first time. ==Background== The DPJ had 79 seats (82 including shin-ryokufukai) after the 2004 Upper House elections, winning 50 out of the 121 up for election, gaining 12, compared to the LDP's 49. As of February 17, 2007, the DPJ held 82 seats to the LDP's 111. Ichirō Ozawa, the leader of the DPJ, addressed a workers' May Day rally in Yoyogi Park on April 28, 2007 setting out the party's agenda for the election. He pledged that the key policy areas would be an end to 'self-righteous' government, pension and medical reforms, and that the DPJ would 'stand in the shoes of workers, residents, and taxpayers'. Reports throughout 2007 showed Shinzō Abe's approval ratings falling,〔(Support for Abe falls below 40% | The Japan Times Online )〕 and public support for the DPJ's position on the recent pension scandal.〔(Abe approval rating hits all-time low )〕 Several other scandals right up until the start of official campaigning did not improve the outlook for the LDP.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Japanese House of Councillors election, 2007」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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