Former Japanese FM to contest presidential election

Former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara officially joined the race on Tuesday when he announced his bid for the DPJ presidency.The entry of Maehara, a candidate with popular backing, drastically changes the race. Maehara had earlier decided not to run. He apparently changed his mind because Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda, a candidate belonging to a mainstream intraparty group similarly as Maehara, cannot attract broader support within the party.Others who have expressed an interest in running from neutral and nonmain stream groups include Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda; Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Michihiko Kano; and former Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Sumio Mabuchi.This will be an unprecedented election for the DPJ since none of the three leaders who have been the major pillars of the party--Prime Minister Naoto Kan, former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and former DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa--will run. Party members should use this election as a springboard to making a new DPJ.The DPJ is planning to begin the official campaign period for the leadership election on Saturday, with Monday as the voting and vote-counting day. The party said the election schedule was decided so as to finish the Diet elections for a new prime minister before the bodys current session ends.