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Japan votes in landmark election Japan votes in landmark election
(10 minutes later)
Voting is under way in Japan in a general election which looks set to bring a historic change of government.Voting is under way in Japan in a general election 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 (LDP).Opinion polls predict victory for the Democratic Party of Japan after more than 50 years of almost unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
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.
Polls close at 2000 (1100 GMT) on Sunday and Japanese media will announce exit polls immediately afterwards.Polls close at 2000 (1100 GMT) on Sunday and Japanese media will announce exit polls immediately afterwards.
Turnout was more than 21% before midday in Japan, the internal affairs ministry said - nearly 1% higher than in 2005 when elections saw the charismatic Junichiro Koizumi's LDP returned with a significant majority. Turnout was expected to be high despite a combination of muggy hot temperatures and typhoon-triggered rough weather around different parts of the country, and a government warning that a swine flu epidemic was under way.
Change needed?
Just before midday, more than 21% of voters had cast their ballots, the internal affairs ministry said - nearly 1% higher than in 2005 when elections saw the charismatic Junichiro Koizumi's LDP returned with a significant majority.
AT THE SCENE Roland Buerk, BBC News, TokyoAT THE SCENE Roland Buerk, BBC News, Tokyo
On bicycles and by foot voters arrived to cast their ballots at a polling station in a nursery school in central Tokyo.On bicycles and by foot voters arrived to cast their ballots at a polling station in a nursery school in central Tokyo.
For Seiichi Isoyama, in his late 70s, the walk was very familiar - from the house he has lived in since he was two years old to the nursery he went to as a small boy.For Seiichi Isoyama, in his late 70s, the walk was very familiar - from the house he has lived in since he was two years old to the nursery he went to as a small boy.
Japan is in many ways vibrant and dynamic, but some things are slow to change. During Mr Isoyama's adult life the Liberal Democratic Party has been returned to power in every election but one.Japan is in many ways vibrant and dynamic, but some things are slow to change. During Mr Isoyama's adult life the Liberal Democratic Party has been returned to power in every election but one.
The party steered Japan's rise from the ashes of defeat in World War II to economic might. But it also oversaw years of stagnation, more recently a crushing recession.The party steered Japan's rise from the ashes of defeat in World War II to economic might. But it also oversaw years of stagnation, more recently a crushing recession.
Even though Japan's economy has returned to growth, Mr Isoyama wants change.Even though Japan's economy has returned to growth, Mr Isoyama wants change.
The conservative LDP, currently led by Prime Minister Taro Aso, has governed Japan for all but 11 months since 1955.The conservative LDP, currently led by Prime Minister Taro Aso, has governed Japan for all but 11 months since 1955.
But several media polls predict that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will win more than 300 seats in the 480-seat lower house of parliament, reversing the election result of 2005.But several media polls predict that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will win more than 300 seats in the 480-seat lower house of parliament, reversing the election result of 2005.
Analysts say voters blame the LDP for the current economic malaise - and are angry enough to opt for change.Analysts say voters blame the LDP for the current economic malaise - and are angry enough to opt for change.
"I don't like what's going on now in this country. Things have to change," 78-year-old Kazuya Tsuda, a retired doctor, told Reuters news agency. "I think we need a change now," 68-year-old Tokyo pensioner Toshihiro Nakamura was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
"I don't think the Democrats can do everything they have pledged under their platform, but it should be better than the current political situation under the LDP." "It's too long for a single party to dominate national politics.
Haruko Kurakata, who said she had voted for an opposition candidate, criticised the frequent changes in Japan's leadership since Mr Koizumi stepped down in 2006.
"It's nonsense to see four prime ministers in four years without asking for the people's opinion," he said.
'Fed up''Fed up'
As campaigning drew to a close, DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama said that voters were about to change history.As campaigning drew to a close, DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama said that voters were about to change history.
I strongly feel that people will vote for the DPJ out of necessity because there's been too much negative press for Taro Aso Kikuchi Daijiro, 20, college student, Oita Japan election: Voters' views Profile: Yukio Hatoyama Profile: Taro AsoI strongly feel that people will vote for the DPJ out of necessity because there's been too much negative press for Taro Aso Kikuchi Daijiro, 20, college student, Oita Japan election: Voters' views Profile: Yukio Hatoyama Profile: Taro Aso
"This is an election to choose whether voters can muster the courage to do away with the old politics," he told crowds in Sakai in the west of Japan on Saturday."This is an election to choose whether voters can muster the courage to do away with the old politics," he told crowds in Sakai in the west of Japan on Saturday.
The centrist DPJ says it will 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 says it will 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.
It has promised to cut waste within the bureaucracy and use the funds to increase welfare spending.It has promised to cut waste within the bureaucracy and use the funds to increase welfare spending.
But Mr Aso questioned whether the DPJ had enough experience to govern.But Mr Aso questioned whether the DPJ 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.
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.
Japanese people cast their votes in historic electionsJapanese people cast their votes in historic elections
It won control of the house in July 2007, amid voters' anger at a series of scandals and the loss of millions of pension payment records.It won control of the house in July 2007, amid voters' anger at a series of scandals and the loss of millions of pension payment records.
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.