Battle of the brands in Japanese elections as opposing parties start to sound alike

Tokyo

INNOVATIVE, or irresponsible? Dependable, or stuck-in-the-mud? With the two main parties fighting Japan's general election on similar policy platforms, voters may be swayed by their marketing campaigns.

Just two issues clearly set apart Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, 65, and her upstart Party of Hope from 63-year-old Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party: nuclear power and the sales tax.