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'Major win' for Japan opposition 'Major win' for Japan opposition
(20 minutes later)
The opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is set for a massive election victory, exit polls suggest.The opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is set for a massive election victory, exit polls suggest.
The DPJ has won 300 seats in the 480-seat lower house, ending 50 years of almost unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), NHK TV says.The DPJ has won 300 seats in the 480-seat lower house, ending 50 years of almost unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), NHK TV says.
The DPJ says it will shift the focus of government from supporting corporations to helping consumers and workers.The DPJ says it will shift the focus of government from supporting corporations to helping consumers and workers.
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.
The conservative LDP, led by Prime Minister Taro Aso, has governed Japan for all but 11 months since 1955.The conservative LDP, led by Prime Minister Taro Aso, has governed Japan for all but 11 months since 1955.
The DPJ leader, Yukio Hatoyama, has promised to boost welfare, reform the bureaucracy, and seek a more balanced relationship with the United States.The DPJ leader, Yukio Hatoyama, has promised to boost welfare, reform the bureaucracy, and seek a more balanced relationship with the United States.
Mr Hatoyama is the wealthy grandson of the founder of Bridgestone tyres, whose other grandfather was a former LDP prime minister.
The results suggest a stunning reversal of fortune for Japan's political parties, reducing the LDP to a rump in parliament, says the BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo.
Official results are expected early on Monday.Official results are expected early on Monday.
Typhoon conditionsTyphoon conditions
Japanese broadcaster NHK announced its exit polls moments after voting ended at 2000 (1100 GMT), saying they showed a major power shift in Japan.Japanese broadcaster NHK announced its exit polls moments after voting ended at 2000 (1100 GMT), saying they showed a major power shift in Japan.
Japan election: Voters' views Profile: Yukio Hatoyama Profile: Taro AsoJapan election: Voters' views Profile: Yukio Hatoyama Profile: Taro Aso
"Our exit polls show the main opposition Democratic Party will seize more than 300 seats, way more than a majority in the lower house," said the newsreader."Our exit polls show the main opposition Democratic Party will seize more than 300 seats, way more than a majority in the lower house," said the newsreader.
"That signals a defeat for the governing coalition.""That signals a defeat for the governing coalition."
The LDP had 303 seats in the outgoing parliament, compared to the DPJ's 112.
The projections were based on exit polls of roughly 400,000 voters.The projections were based on exit polls of roughly 400,000 voters.
If the DPJ were to gain such a landslide majority, it would be able to oust Mr Aso and establish a new cabinet, possibly within the next few weeks.If the DPJ were to gain such a landslide majority, it would be able to oust Mr Aso and establish a new cabinet, possibly within the next few weeks.
As voting closed on Sunday night, officials said turnout had been high, despite a combination of typhoon-triggered rainfall around Tokyo and a government warning that a swine flu epidemic was under way.As voting closed on Sunday night, officials said turnout had been high, despite a combination of typhoon-triggered rainfall around Tokyo and a government warning that a swine flu epidemic was under way.