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Japan votes in landmark election Japan votes in landmark election
(about 2 hours later)
Voting has begun in a hotly-contested election in Japan which looks set to bring a historic change of government.Voting has begun in a hotly-contested election in Japan which looks set to bring a historic change of government.
Opinion polls predict victory for the Democratic Party of Japan after more than 50 years of almost unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party.Opinion polls predict victory for the Democratic Party of Japan after more than 50 years of almost unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party.
Japan is suffering record unemployment and its economy is struggling to emerge from a bruising recession.Japan is suffering record unemployment and its economy is struggling to emerge from a bruising recession.
Turnout is expected to be high and about 10% of eligible voters cast early ballots on Saturday.Turnout is expected to be high and about 10% of eligible voters cast early ballots on Saturday.
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Prime Minister Taro Aso has governed Japan for all but 11 months since 1955, but analysts say it is now widely blamed by voters for Japan's economic malaise. The conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Prime Minister Taro Aso has governed Japan for all but 11 months since 1955, but analysts say it is now widely blamed by voters for Japan's economic malaise.
As campaigning drew to a close, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leader Yukio Hatoyama said the election could be historic.As campaigning drew to a close, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leader Yukio Hatoyama said the election could be historic.
I strongly feel that people will vote for DPJ out of necessity because there's been too much negative press for Taro Aso Kikuchi Daijiro, 20, college student, Oita class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/8223982.stm">Japan election: Voters' views class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/8204994.stm">New tricks as election looms class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/8168838.stm">Profile: Yukio Hatoyama class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/6992661.stm">Profile: Taro Aso ANALYSIS Roland Buerk, BBC News, Tokyo
Many people say they want a change.
While the LDP brought great economic might for Japan it also brought years of stagnation and more recently a crushing recession.
Another factor is leadership. Taro Aso is the third LDP prime minister in the last three years.
They have been seen as ineffectual and that is why people might wish to vote for change.
"At last, it is the election tomorrow, one that we will be able to tell the next generation changed Japanese history," he told crowds in Sakai in the west of Japan on Saturday."At last, it is the election tomorrow, one that we will be able to tell the next generation changed Japanese history," he told crowds in Sakai in the west of Japan on Saturday.
The DPJ wants to shift the focus of government from supporting corporations to helping consumers and workers - challenging the status quo that has existed since the end of World War II. The centrist DPJ wants to shift the focus of government from supporting corporations to helping consumers and workers - challenging the status quo that has existed since the end of World War II.
But Mr Aso questioned whether the opposition had enough experience to govern.But Mr Aso questioned whether the opposition had enough experience to govern.
"Can you trust these people? It's a problem if you feel uneasy whether they can really run this country," he told a rally outside Tokyo."Can you trust these people? It's a problem if you feel uneasy whether they can really run this country," he told a rally outside Tokyo.
Several media polls have predicted that the DPJ will win more than 300 seats in the 480-seat lower house of parliament, reversing the election result of 2005.Several media polls have predicted that the DPJ will win more than 300 seats in the 480-seat lower house of parliament, reversing the election result of 2005.
Election campaigning ended with rallies in the capital, Tokyo I strongly feel that people will vote for DPJ out of necessity because there's been too much negative press for Taro Aso Kikuchi Daijiro, 20, college student, Oita class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/8223982.stm">Japan election: Voters' views class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/8204994.stm">New tricks as election looms class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/8168838.stm">Profile: Yukio Hatoyama class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/6992661.stm">Profile: Taro Aso
The DPJ already controls Japan's upper house with the support of smaller parties including the Social Democrats.The DPJ already controls Japan's upper house with the support of smaller parties including the Social Democrats.
Correspondents say voters' desire for change after so many years under the LDP could be a crucial factor.Correspondents say voters' desire for change after so many years under the LDP could be a crucial factor.
Tokyo University political science professor Takashi Mikuriya told Japanese media that the election "is more about emotions than policies".Tokyo University political science professor Takashi Mikuriya told Japanese media that the election "is more about emotions than policies".
"Most voters are making the decision not about policies but about whether they are fed up with the ruling party," he said."Most voters are making the decision not about policies but about whether they are fed up with the ruling party," he said.
Polls close at 2000 (1100 GMT) on Sunday.Polls close at 2000 (1100 GMT) on Sunday.