Platforms of key parties in Japan's election

Led by Yukiko Kada, the pro-green governor of western Japan's Shiga prefecture, the Tomorrow Party offers itself as a new alternative, drawing support from the grass-roots anti-nuclear movement. Its clean government image has been compromised, however, by its ties with veteran lawmaker and power broker Ichiro Ozawa, who left the DPJ earlier this year. The party opposes the TPP, favoring separate free trade agreements, and wants to phase out nuclear power within a decade. It also opposes a recently approved doubling of the sales tax to 10 percent, advocates more support for families, the poor and elderly, and wants more career opportunities for women.

— NEW KOMEITO PARTY

Komeito is backed by the large lay Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai and many small business owners. The party has joined past coalitions with the Liberal Democrats, and its peace-oriented, anti-nuclear weapons stance might help balance out their more hawkish views. Komeito favors a longer phase-out, over 40 years, of nuclear power. On the economy, it opposes the TPP but supports other free trade pacts, while urging more support for farmers, small businesses, renewable energy and tourism.