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| Japan election: Abe 'wins key upper house vote' | Japan election: Abe 'wins key upper house vote' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has won a majority in the upper house, exit polls suggest. | Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has won a majority in the upper house, exit polls suggest. |
| His Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner New Komeito were set to get at least 71 of the 121 seats being contested, broadcaster NHK projected. | His Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner New Komeito were set to get at least 71 of the 121 seats being contested, broadcaster NHK projected. |
| This would give him control of both houses of parliament for the first time in six years. | This would give him control of both houses of parliament for the first time in six years. |
| The deadlock in parliament has been seen as a key factor in Japan's recent "revolving door" of prime ministers. | The deadlock in parliament has been seen as a key factor in Japan's recent "revolving door" of prime ministers. |
| Official results are not expected until Monday. | Official results are not expected until Monday. |
| But the exit poll suggested Mr Abe's coalition would control 130 seats in the 242-seat upper house. Half the seats were being contested in Sunday's election. | But the exit poll suggested Mr Abe's coalition would control 130 seats in the 242-seat upper house. Half the seats were being contested in Sunday's election. |
| The result is being seen as a vote of confidence in Mr Abe, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo. | |
| He has the power - the question is whether he has the will, too, says our correspondent. | |
| Media reports said voter turnout was lower than in the last upper house election, in 2010. | |
| Search for stability | Search for stability |
| Reacting to the exit polls, LDP Vice-President Masahiko Komura told NHK: "People wanted politics that can make decisions and an administration with a stable grounding, which led to today's result." | |
| "'Abenomics' is proceeding smoothly and people want us to ensure the benefits reach them too. That feeling was strong," he said referring to Mr Abe's economic proposals. | |
| Japan's upper chamber, while not as powerful as the lower house, is able to block legislation introduced by the government. | Japan's upper chamber, while not as powerful as the lower house, is able to block legislation introduced by the government. |
| Opposition parties have had enough combined seats to control the upper chamber in recent years, leading to what has become known as a "twisted parliament". | Opposition parties have had enough combined seats to control the upper chamber in recent years, leading to what has become known as a "twisted parliament". |
| This has resulted in factionalism and multiple changes of prime minister. | This has resulted in factionalism and multiple changes of prime minister. |
| "We need political stability to carry out policies," Mr Abe said ahead of the vote. | "We need political stability to carry out policies," Mr Abe said ahead of the vote. |
| Mr Abe, 58, has relatively strong public support for his proposals for economic reform, which seek to revive the economy, stagnant for two decades. | |
| Since his coalition government came to power, the economy has grown by 4% and the stock market by more than 40%. | Since his coalition government came to power, the economy has grown by 4% and the stock market by more than 40%. |
| His first two measures involved a big injection of cash by the Bank of Japan and a major boost in government spending. | His first two measures involved a big injection of cash by the Bank of Japan and a major boost in government spending. |
| But he now faces the task of driving through difficult structural changes to the economy. | But he now faces the task of driving through difficult structural changes to the economy. |
| Trade barriers need to come down, taxes will need to rise and large parts of the economy will have to be deregulated. | |
| One of the decisions he will have to make later this year is whether to raise sales tax next April from 5% to 8% to help reduce Japan's national debt. | One of the decisions he will have to make later this year is whether to raise sales tax next April from 5% to 8% to help reduce Japan's national debt. |
| Mr Abe is also considering whether to cut Japan's 36% corporate tax to spur growth and open up the power industry, currently controlled by regional monopolies. | Mr Abe is also considering whether to cut Japan's 36% corporate tax to spur growth and open up the power industry, currently controlled by regional monopolies. |
| And his government is keen to join a free trade agreement known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), being negotiated by 11 countries. | And his government is keen to join a free trade agreement known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), being negotiated by 11 countries. |
| Mr Abe is also thought likely to endorse several controversial policies beyond the economy. | Mr Abe is also thought likely to endorse several controversial policies beyond the economy. |
| These include restarting Japan's nuclear reactors - something many in Japan are opposed to. | These include restarting Japan's nuclear reactors - something many in Japan are opposed to. |
| A possible revision of Japan's pacifist constitution, especially a section which prohibits the use of force in international disputes except for self-defence, may also be a priority. But correspondents say pursuing nationalistic policies may cause tension with neighbouring countries. | A possible revision of Japan's pacifist constitution, especially a section which prohibits the use of force in international disputes except for self-defence, may also be a priority. But correspondents say pursuing nationalistic policies may cause tension with neighbouring countries. |