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Japan election campaign winds up Japan election campaign winds up
(about 3 hours later)
Political parties in Japan have been holding their final campaign rallies ahead of Sunday's election for the upper house of parliament.Political parties in Japan have been holding their final campaign rallies ahead of Sunday's election for the upper house of parliament.
The Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has asked voters to allow him to press on with his reform programme. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has asked voters to allow him to press on with his reform programme.
The leader of the opposition Democratic Party, Ichiro Ozawa, has appealed to voters in rural areas. The leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, Ichiro Ozawa, has appealed to voters in rural areas.
Support for Mr Abe has plummeted recently, and opinion polls predict a poor result for his ruling coalition.Support for Mr Abe has plummeted recently, and opinion polls predict a poor result for his ruling coalition.
If the coalition suffers a heavy defeat, the prime minister could face calls for his resignation. A defeat in the polls would not have direct implications for Mr Abe, because his ruling coalition has a sizeable majority in the more powerful lower house.
But if the coalition suffers a heavy defeat, the prime minister - who came to office last September - could face calls for his resignation.
His popularity has been hit by a series of scandals, including an admission that the government lost millions of pension records.His popularity has been hit by a series of scandals, including an admission that the government lost millions of pension records.
Mr Abe has acknowledged that he faces an uphill battle. "We are a responsible party. Please give the LDP power," Mr Abe urged a crowd in central Tokyo, in a speech wrapping up a two-week campaign.
"We are a responsible party. Please give the LDP power," he urged a crowd in central Tokyo, in a speech wrapping up a two-week campaign.
"Do we move ahead with reform or do we go backward? We will surely push ahead with reform.""Do we move ahead with reform or do we go backward? We will surely push ahead with reform."
Ichiro Ozawa, campaigning in Tottori in western Japan, was quoted by Kyodo news agency as telling voters: "If we fail to win a majority and allow Abe's administration to survive, it means democracy will never take root in Japan."Ichiro Ozawa, campaigning in Tottori in western Japan, was quoted by Kyodo news agency as telling voters: "If we fail to win a majority and allow Abe's administration to survive, it means democracy will never take root in Japan."
LDP backingLDP backing
The ruling coalition needs to win 64 of the 121 seats being contested to retain its upper house majority.The ruling coalition needs to win 64 of the 121 seats being contested to retain its upper house majority.
Q&A: Upper house polls Q&A: Upper house polls But according to the latest polls, this looks unlikely.
But according to the latest polls, this looks unlikely. They show higher levels of support for the Democratic Party, while support for Mr Abe and his cabinet remains at about the 30% mark.
They show higher levels of support for the main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, while support for Mr Abe and his Cabinet remains at about the 30% mark. Several top LDP lawmakers have backed Mr Abe in recent days, emphasising that this election is not a referendum on his leadership.
A defeat in the polls would not have direct implications for Mr Abe, because his ruling coalition has a sizeable majority in the more powerful lower house.
And several top LDP lawmakers have backed him in recent days, emphasising that this election is not a referendum on his leadership.
But a heavy defeat for the ruling coalition could pile pressure on Mr Abe and make it impossible for him to remain in office, some experts say.But a heavy defeat for the ruling coalition could pile pressure on Mr Abe and make it impossible for him to remain in office, some experts say.
Pension scandalPension scandal
Mr Abe became prime minister in September 2006, following popular leader Junichiro Koizumi's decision to step down.Mr Abe became prime minister in September 2006, following popular leader Junichiro Koizumi's decision to step down.
He started with solid levels of public support and won initial praise for rebuilding ties with China that had been damaged by Mr Koizumi's visits to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine.He started with solid levels of public support and won initial praise for rebuilding ties with China that had been damaged by Mr Koizumi's visits to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine.
But in recent months his administration has been hit by a series of ministerial gaffes and scandals. Two of his ministers were forced to step down and one committed suicide.But in recent months his administration has been hit by a series of ministerial gaffes and scandals. Two of his ministers were forced to step down and one committed suicide.
A nationwide pension scandal affecting millions of payments has also caused huge concern and led many voters to question his leadership skills.A nationwide pension scandal affecting millions of payments has also caused huge concern and led many voters to question his leadership skills.