All but one Democratic Party of Japan candidate fielded at the initiative of former Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa as second DPJ runners in multiseat districts failed to be elected in Sunday's Upper House election.
The DPJ fielded two candidates, including women handpicked by Ozawa and dubbed "Ozawa girls," in 10 two-seat districts. Before he resigned last month as secretary general, Ozawa promoted the strategy to win a greater number of seats, despite worries among local party branches that such candidacies could split the party's support base.