intention to run, were exploring candidacies or were considered likely candidates. They included— Sakihito Ozawa, Hatoyama group, former environment minister in the Hatoyama and Kan cabinets. Shinji Tarutoko, Noda group, who ran for the party presidency against Kan with support from parts of the Ozawa group in 2010. Some members of the Yokomichi group (former Japanese Socialist Party) wanted to draft a member of their faction, Hirotaka Akamatsu, former agriculture minister in the Hatoyama cabinet, as their candidate for party president. The Kawabata group (former Democratic Socialist Party) was also exploring whether to nominate a candidate from their own ranks. Any candidacy needs the support of at least 20 Democratic members of the Diet. As the 2011 election is a preliminary election due to a resignation, no primaries among party members and supporters will be held and prefectural and municipal assembly members will not take part in the vote. Only the currently 398 (excludes nine suspended members) Democratic Diet members are eligible to vote. If no candidate receives a majority in the first round, a runoff vote takes place between the top two candidates. The new party president will serve the remainder of Naoto Kan’s regular term, until autumn 2012, when a regular DPJ presidential election will be required. The general assembly of Democratic members of both houses of the Diet convenes in the New Ōtani Hotel in the Western centre of Tokyo (Chiyoda, Eastern Tokyo). Results In the first round of voting, Ozawa's favored candidate Kaieda won, but the losing candidates rallied behind Noda in the second, runoff vote. Sources: NHK World References External links Democratic Party: Past elections for the party presidency The Senkyo, election dictionary: Democratic Party presidential elections 2011 elections in Japan Political party leadership elections in Japan Indirect elections Democratic Party (Japan, 1998) leadership election