1.
GV PAN TO SV DEMOCRATIC-SOCIALIST CAR WITH PLACARD.
0.09

2.
SV FLOWER-BEDECKED FLOAT.
0.15

3.
GV PAN CANDIDATE, ON MOVING CAR, SPEAKS INTO MICROPHONE.
0.21

4.
SV DITTO.
0.24

5.
SV GIRL GIVING AWAY ELECTION BALLOONS.
0.32

6.
SV & SCU MR. NISHIO SPEAKS PAN TO ANOTHER CANDIDATE
0.45

7.
SV PEOPLE LISTEN IN STREET.
0.48

8.
SCU ANOTHER MAN LISTENS.
0.50

9.
CU NISHIO CONTINUES SPEECH.
0.54

10.
SLV PEOPLE LISTENING.
1.00



Initials JT/S/MGT/ES JT/S/MGT/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: JAPAN'S RECENT MINE AND RAIL DISASTERS HAVE PROVIDED AMMUNITION FOR OPPOSITION PARTIES AS THE COUNTRY PREPARES FOR THURSDAY'S GENERAL ELECTION. REASONS RANGING FROM LACK OF SAFETY TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC POLICY HAVE BEEN BLAMED BY THE OPPOSITION AS THE CAUSE OF THE TRAGEDIES.

BUT THE MAIN ISSUE OF THE ELECTION REMAINS THE SAME AS BEFORE THE DIET (PARLIAMENT) WAS DISSOLVED ON OCTOBER 23: THE STATE OF THE JAPANESE ECONOMY. PRIME MINISTER HAYATO IKEDA HAS SAID, IN EFFECT, THAT THROUGH HIS CURRENT INCOME DOUBLING PROGRAMME THE JAPANESE PEOPLE HAVE NEVER BEFORE BEEN SO PROSPEROUS.

HOWEVER, THE OPPOSITION -- THE SOCIALISTS, THE DEMOCRATIC-SOCIALISTS AND THE COMMUNISTS -- HAVE DENOUNCED MR IKEDA AND HIS PROGRAMME AS THE CAUSE OF SPIRALLING COMMODITY PRICES.

THE DEMOCRATIC-SOCIALISTS HAVE BEEN USING SLOGAN-COVERED LOUDSPEAKER VANS AND FLOWER-BEDECKED FLOATS TO GET THEIR MESSAGE ACROSS. GIVE-AWAY BALLOONS ARE ALSO BEING USED TO LURE VOTES.

LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC-SOCIALIST PARTY IS MR SUEHIRO NISHIO, WHO FORMED IT IN 1955 AFTER BREAKING AWAY FROM THE TRADITIONAL SOCIALISTS. WHEN PARLIAMENT BROKE UP LAST MONTH IT HAD ONLY 14 OF THE DIET'S 467 SEATS, ALTHOUGH ITS DUES-PAYING MEMBERSHIP IS THE SAME AS THAT OF THE RULING LIBERAL-DEMOCRATS.

OBSERVERS IN TOKYO HAVE LITTLE DOUBT THAT MR IKEDA AND HIS LIBERAL-DEMOCRATS WILL BE RETURNED TO POWER ON THURSDAY.