Japanese parties sprint toward Oct. 27 vote under new leadership

TOKYO -- Japan's second-shortest election cycle since World War II kicked off after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba dissolved the lower house for a snap election on Wednesday, just over a week after taking office.

As a freshly elected leader, Ishiba will face the challenge of keeping his ruling Liberal Democratic Party's majority in the lower house amid voter backlash against a slush fund scandal.