Naoto Kan, Japan's prime minister, is locked in an extremely close race with ruling Democratic party challenger Ichiro Ozawa, according to media surveys of the party members that will decide this month’s DPJ leadership election.
No clear leader has emerged ahead of the September 14 vote, which will decide whether Mr Kan can extend his three months in office. Victory
Mr Ozawa's decision to challenge Mr Kan for the leadership has cast doubt over the direction of Japanese economic policy and raised fears within the DPJ that the party might split. However, both candidates have stressed that they would continue to work together regardless of the outcome.
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