Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, seen as mild and levelheaded, is another possible candidate.

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DPJ, led by Katsuya Okada, has clearly been frustrated by Mr Koizumi's skill at portraying Japan Post as a litmus test for reformists.

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Yet many will call for someone outside the Ozawa orbit to lead the party, in which case Katsuya Okada, a 55-year-old former leader, is the favourite.

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"Certainly, using the automated systems does reduce the number of staff we need, " says Katsuya Hagane, the manager in charge of operations at New Transit Yurikamome.

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Dr. Takasu Katsuya, 51, is president of Japan's Takasu Clinic.

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DPJ, with the relatively youthful Katsuya Okada (a mere 51) at its helm, has clearly emerged as the dominant opposition party, with a chance of governing the country one day.

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At its The Redbury in Hollywood, guests can choose between Mediterranean selections from Danny Elmaleh's Cleo, which located in the hotel, or have creations by master sushi chef Katsuya Uechi delivered from Katsuya, located a short distance away, across Hollywood Boulevard.

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