tokyo fledgling party lead popular tokyo governor yuriko koike gain momentum thursday ahead oct. 22 election big opposition democratic party say would step aside let candidates run conservative reformist banner prime minister shinzo abe conservative return power 2012 hop recent boost voter support help liberal democratic party-led ldp coalition maintain simple majority hold two-thirds super majority koike new party hope formally launch wednesday upend outlook election former ldp member announce would lead someone always ready take action koike tell news conference speak achievements since take office governor year ago media-savvy former defense minister whose name often float japan first female prime minister koike say would run seat although speculation persist democratic party executives say would run candidates would let members run party hope banner party struggle overcome rock-bottom rat defections image taint rocky stint power 2009 2012. cabinet formally set date election abe tell reporters decide call election must overcome national crisis threat north korea age population obtain mandate people opposition lawmakers boycott dissolution session protest abe election decision could bring political vacuum time high tension north korea missile nuclear arm program survey mainichi newspaper show 18 percent voters plan vote koike party compare 29 percent abe rule liberal democratic party ldp asahi newspaper poll show 13 percent plan vote party versus 32 percent ldp survey ask voters preference proportional representation district ballot cast party rather candidates voters many countries show will take risk even severe risk term actually happen disappoint status quo say martin schulz researcher fujitsu research institute schulz draw comparison french president emmanuel macron meteoric rise add koike platform might appeal give similarities ldp policies abe personal rat rise 50 percent 30 percent july partly back leadership current north korea crisis opposition party say call election escape question parliament suspect cronyism scandals cut support koike 65 defy ldp run successfully tokyo governor last year novice local party crush ldp metropolitan assembly election july party hope share policy space business-friendly ldp stake different stances two issue likely appeal voters koike want japan abandon nuclear power say would study ways eliminate dependence 2030. abe government aim retain role energy mix despite worry safety 2011 fukushima nuclear crisis koike also want freeze plan rise national sales tax 10 percent percent 2019. abe say raise tax spend child care education instead pay public debt recent reform cut 465 475 number low house seat come election japan call snap election new party roil outlook