The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won Sunday's general election by landslide victory, sweeping the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) out of almost unbroken power since 1955 to usher in a new era of Japanese politics.
The DPJ secured 308 seats in the powerful 480-seat House of Representatives. The LDP, by contrast, won only 119 seats and its smaller ally New Komeito won 21 seats. Three other parties in the opposition bloc, Social Democratic Party, the Japanese Communist Party and the People's New Party won seven, nine and three seats respectively, according to broadcaster TV Asahi.
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The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leader Yukio Hatoyama speaks during a news conference after his party won the lower house election in Tokyo August 31, 2009. The DPJ is set to win Sunday's general election by landslide, sweeping the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) out of almost unbroken power since 1955 to usher in a new era of Japanese politics, showed by the exit polls. [Ren Zhenglai/Xinhua]
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By winning the election, Yukio Hatoyama, 62-year-old head of DPJ and a political blueblood, will become Japan's next Prime Minister.
Before the election, the LDP has 300 seats and its partner New Komeito has 31, compared with 115 held by the DPJ.
"A huge number of people have spoken through their votes, and they have said we must change the way that we do politics in Japan," Hatoyama said at a televised press conference late Sunday.
"Our aspiration (for a change in the government) has been materialized. I want to express my gratitude to voters, and Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party"
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Japanese Prime Minister and ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader Taro Aso reacts at his party's headquaters in Tokyo, Japan, on Aug. 30, 2009. Taro Aso admitted the failure during the the House of Representatives election on Sunday. [Qian Zheng/Xinhua]
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"This is not just a victory for DPJ, but also for people facing partiality in the old bureaucratic-centered politics...We will humbly accept people's voices on how we can improve politics to benefit people," he added.
Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso announced that he will quit as president of the LDP following the defeat in the general election.
"I believe the result is the judgment from the public and we have to accept," Aso said. "I have to accept it as my destiny."
"The LDP will have a fresh start under the new leader of the party," he said. "I will continue to work for the revival of the party."
