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Japan's ruling bloc wins landslide in upper house: exit polls

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So a guy whose policies have across the board been an abject failure and whose party only gets a little over 30 percent of the vote is about to get a landslide victory?

I find this truly depressing.

14 ( +18 / -4 )

Economists worry the government will choose big-ticket infrastructure projects rather than implement tough structural reforms.

Almost a certainty.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

I'm disappointed in the way the opposition parties handled this election. They couldn't launch a good attack in taking on Abenomics. So ... if Abe does win big ... which appears to be happening ... so be it. Gotta get used to even higher prices and lower pay. Done it before, so guess can do it again.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

“I’m no party member or supporter of the Communist Party, but I thought they were the farthest away from the LDP,”

This the right thing to do, adjust the balance of power so the ruling bloc cannot avoid to debate.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

So, let's wait and see how many peopl actually voted. Remember the report the other day that stated, 50% of people don't vote because they don't like the government. That makes perfect sense, doesn't it? It's impossible to help someone that won't help themselves. Japan is doomed under another term of Abe and with a 2/3 majority. There will be nothing stopping him lining the pockets of his corporate buddies and screwing the other 95% of the population to pay for it. You can also expect the constitution change and sales tax increase to hit the table before this month finished. All the other policy pledges will be swept under the carpet until the next election. Bring on the economic recession/depression!

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Did you read this little gem? "Speculation has also emerged that Abe might replace Finance Minister Taro Aso, 75." I'm elated at not having to see his face on TV wearing his gangster hat and grin...oh please make it true.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Conservative ruling block of Komeito-Jiminto will crush this election along with the hope of a future. Truly a sad outcome in the making here and a society in decline and regress.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Changing the constitution is good Japan can now go to war again as they now can militarize with a majority of the upper and lower houses They can also have fun with the TPP Still their economy will fail unless wages double to at least 1500 yen per hour minimum wage

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Meanwhile, the Japanese voter knows full well that the foreign resident card holders have absolute no say in Japanese politics. Roll on the 10 trillion yen stimulus package, it will suit me and **** the begrudgers.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Get ready for even more easy money policies, recessions in quick succession, and a nasty Article 9 fight in the coming years.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

So we can expect more failure...Hmmm!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I'd like to take this moment to reflect on the "coverage" provided here by the "aggregate" news site, Japan Today.

Every single one of their reports was from Abe or his party's perspective. Every single one.

I never heard a peep from the opposition here-if that's going on nationwide, they why expect anyone but Abe to win?! It's not like there's another perspective to be had out there, now, is there?

It's a shame...right now on TV they feel the need to have voice character "artists" read the canned "news reports" about Koizumi's son, Koizumi Jr. What a hero! What a charisma guy! Throw some background music on his reports, guys, the youth vote put this thing over the top! Sure, only 1 in 3 people actually voted, but that pathetically small voting bloc gave Abe-san his 2/3 support for erasing "peace" from the Peace Constitution! Yeah?

Enjoy the military, young'uns! I'm sure they'll have plenty of hair wax and eyebrow-shaving facilities for you "men" in your next forward post! Smh!

12 ( +13 / -1 )

CONGRATULATIONS! Abe and LDP bloc did it-as expected-despite hard times,i told before we gonna meet in summer elections,and here we meet again.Am waiting for confirmed numbers and news,then we will manage how to celebrate this historical victory.

-12 ( +6 / -18 )

Keep eyes tomorrow on YEN,as a result of Abe and LDP victory,hopefully what i said before will come true,NIKEI is expected to make good gains.

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

Amazing how voters continue to vote for a failure. It is a strong case that democracy is a farce. The LDP has run this country with a few brief breaks for almost 60 years. Economic stagnation, the LDP owns it, the nuclear disaster in 2011, the LDP owns it, the anaemic position Japan has in the world, LDP again. Abenomics, failure by any measure. Anything would be better than the LDP to run Japan but voters continue to give them power. Democracy does not work in Japan. That is very, very clear. The future of this country just got measurably worse tonight.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

For things to stay the same they have to change, or something like that.

In there you might find an explanation for what just happened.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It's appalling that voter turnout is only 36%. At least in my country (Australia), voting is compulsory, so whatever the result, we can say that probably 100% of voters had their say in the election. It will be interesting to see what the voter turnout for the 18 and 19-year-olds in Japan will be for this election.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Scary stuff indeed, country really is looking like it WANTS to go over the cliff............

7 ( +7 / -0 )

If majority of the 36% voted for Abe/LDP, then that means 64% didn't. Knowing that is at least kind of like a silver lining....

2 ( +3 / -1 )

"Voter turnout was 36.14% as of 7:30 p.m., media reported."

And I would love toknow what percent of that trun-out was over the age of 65.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Abe will be P m

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Brainiac, always liked the Australian idea of mandatory voting, wish it was used in the UK, by the way(as you probably already know) the Athenians who invented democracy had the same idea.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The apathy in Japan is astounding. But "shouganai", right?

2 ( +8 / -6 )

The country deserves what it gets after this election - Japan, your children will bleed in useless wars because of the bad choice you made today. Shame on you for damning the young with your foolishness.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

36% OR 3.6% who cares,We WON the election,we won the majority,this is the fact on the ground.Why its hard to accept and respect Japanese choices?!

-16 ( +1 / -17 )

Sadness ! Japan is such a great country ! The illusion that a totalitarian government can solve all of Japanese problems is indeed a grave mistake . The Japanese were fooled once and granted it was not through elections at the time , they paid an incredible price for it . It seems the public can be swayed to be believe Abe is the answer to all problems . Japan should not need to be reminded of that danger . Abe and his party can manage the media pretty well .

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Hateful result for a hateful political party with useless policies...

7 ( +9 / -2 )

@ghoneim mohamed

36% OR 3.6% who cares,We WON

Exactly , this lot of begrudgers are tugging on their wives vote. while we are just waiting on the motherload of stimulus

-14 ( +1 / -15 )

James Burke

Do you remember our discussions about Abe Shinzo and LDP?we disagreed,i told you Abe will win,you ensured he will loose,you said he will never be able to change constitution,i said he will,you said there will be big demonstration will step him down,Now its obvious i won.You have been in Japan more than 7years,and speak good Japanese,i am in Japan since a year and dont speak Japanese,i follow up news in English,but am involved in politics long ago,and know well how it works,You told me i have zero percent be recognized as a political refugee,but i was the solely recognized political refugee in 2015 among 27 were recognized.Thats only to remind you.

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

Does anyone know if the Komeito will support changing Article 9 of the Constitution ? Will all LDP members support it, or this there some factionalism in the party over this issue?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Exactly , this lot of begrudgers are tugging on their wives vote. while we are just waiting on the motherload of stimulus

Voting for a faiure of a PM and his failed economic policies - and then holding your hand out for yet more "stimulus" - is indicative of why this place is beyond help now.

We WON the election,we won the majority

What's this "We"? With respect, Ghoneim Mohamad, I'm not convinced you are an accepted member of "Team Abe"!

9 ( +11 / -2 )

60% of 36% does not a mandate make. It tells you that most people refuse to choose between death by lethal injection or death b cyanide pill.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Still the best country in the world as far as I'm concerned. The people voted and we must respect that decision, whether you like it or not.

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

Landslide my a##. Gil Scott Heron..B movie. Sums it up. Less than 25% of registered voters is not in any sense a mandate. Spin time!

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Enjoy your future combat engagements and no middle class Japan. You've earned it.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Seems like close to 80% of registered voters didn't vote for Abe. Hardly what I would describe as either a 'landslide' nor a 'mandate'. Underwhelming at best.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

I'm sad that Abe won again, even though I knew it was coming right from the start.

But the people have spoken, even the ones that chose not to speak, and Abe is the direction they wanted to go. I can only hope it goes well.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Heaven help us all.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Since I heard the results, it feels like Groundhog Day, and I've been suffering from an annoyingly persistent where-have-all-the-flowers-gone ohrwurm that bounces around between my ears like a pachinko ball with the lugubrious refrain: "When will they ever learn, when will they e-e-e-ve-er learn? Today I realize once again the truth of the saying: sarcasm is the most intense expression of grief. Now all I can do is grab some popcorn and indulge my schadenfreude watching Captain Abe on the bridge ram the LDPquod into Article 9 of the Constitution, after which we can expect to hear a prolonged sucking sound.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

36% voter turnout!? That's not a validation of anything

That's a repudiation

5 ( +6 / -1 )

StrangerlandJUL. 10, 2016 - 11:18PM JST

But the people have spoken, even the ones that chose not to speak, and Abe is the direction they wanted to go.

How can you know that? I daresay that in many cases not voting does indicate tacit acceptance of a very likely result. It could also indicate total disinterest, or coming to the conclusion that the candidates people might have wanted to win simply weren't going to. I seriously doubt that all of the people who didn't vote are really happy with the way things are.

I can only hope it goes well.

Highly unlikely. We're talking about the LDP here. Not only shamelessly corrupt and crypto-fascist, but also totally useless at anything except gaming the system to keep themselves in power.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

"Voter turnout was 36.14% as of 7:30 p.m"

In other words, democracy is a failed system for Japan where almost two third eligible voters fail to participate. One got to remember in Japan, it is Silent Disapproval that speak Louder than those who actually vote for LDP, so Abe's win is actually a loss. His win is further discredited by lack of a Mandate where he have no more than one third support based on this voter turnout. If he have any sense of shame like what most Japanese do, he Should Not use this election to try a legislative maneuver to bring about a vote to revise the Japanese Article 9 Constitution.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

DocCarlosJUL. 10, 2016 - 08:38PM JST Changing the constitution is good Japan can now go to war again as they now can militarize with a majority of the upper and >>lower houses

How could a sane person say that it is good to be able to go to war again ? Are you on the payroll or holding shares of a weapon selling J-INC ?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

englisc aspyrgend - "Brainiac, always liked the Australian idea of mandatory voting, wish it was used in the UK, by the way(as you probably already know) the Athenians who invented democracy had the same idea."

The Athenians did not elect their representatives, they were chosen via sortition (lottery), similar to how common law countries select juries. They saw elections as corrupt as the incumbent has the advantage, money in politics, etc. Personally, I think weighted sortition based on political ideology would be a good idea. If 22% of voters were LDP, 15% of voters DPJ, etc then it would better reflect in the Diet. It could be implemented for both single-member districts and multiple member districts (PR).

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Mainichi estimate turnout at 54.70 percent. The figures we were seeing, such as "36.14% as of 7:30 p.m.", were for voting on the day. More than ever poeople voted in advance.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

36% OR 3.6% who cares,We WON the election,we won the majority,this is the fact on the ground.Why its hard to accept and respect Japanese choices?!

It's not hard to accept, but when it's sheeples that were voting it makes me wonder if the vote was valid or not!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Winston Churchill

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Voter turnout was 36.14%

LOL

0 ( +1 / -1 )

How can you know that?

Because the people who voted made their decision, and the people who didn't vote left the decision up to those who did.

I seriously doubt that all of the people who didn't vote are really happy with the way things are.

I didn't claim they are. But they made the decision to leave the decision up to others, so whether they are happy or not, that was their decision.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Those who criticized,voting had been made by old people,i would remind them,Brexit refe.had been made by same way,but we havent heard a clue against,though in both cases its people choices,whether we like it or not.they just-in case they really believe in democracy-to accept and respect,.Those who voted are in all ways,citizens have the full right to choose and decide,no democracy for young only.Voting age has been down to 18yrs,what else can be done?If someone doesnt wanna vote,thats his or her choice,we dont argue about,and we shouldnt argue about old citizens choices as well,

1 ( +1 / -0 )

StrangerlandJUL. 11, 2016 - 07:18AM JST

How can you know that?

Because the people who voted made their decision, and the people who didn't vote left the decision up to those who did.

That's not the same thing as saying "Abe is the direction they wanted to go."

I seriously doubt that all of the people who didn't vote are really happy with the way things are.

I didn't claim they are. But they made the decision to leave the decision up to others, so whether they are happy or not, that was their decision.

Yes you did. You said Abe is the direction they wanted to go. Or does that mean something different?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

That's not the same thing as saying "Abe is the direction they wanted to go."

Sure it is - that's how the democratic process works. The people vote, and the party/person that gets the most votes is the chosen direction.

Yes you did. You said Abe is the direction they wanted to go. Or does that mean something different?

Did you not see the vote? The LDP won. So Abe is the direction they wanted to go.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Pat is right, Japan is still the best country to live in, and that is why so few Japanese vote or vote for anyone different. They know that they are living in a comparatively equal, peaceful, crime free society, with no drugs, low taxation, low polution, low cost of living: a utopia. JTGs may wail and gnash their teeth but the Japanese electorate know what they want and how to keep getting it.

The problem is we may all have been deceived.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

StrangerlandJUL. 11, 2016 - 07:51AM JST

Did you not see the vote? The LDP won. So Abe is the direction they wanted to go.

But you acknowledged that out of all the people that didn't vote there are likely to be at least some who aren't happy with the way things are. Are you claiming that they'll be happy with the result?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

But you acknowledged that out of all the people that didn't vote there are likely to be at least some who aren't happy with the way things are

They had their chance to change direction yesterday, and opted not to take it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I said yesterday keep eyes on Yen and Nikei ,there will be big gain,it happened today,but i believe yen is gonna rebound at the level of 103 against dollar even if it goes little higher,it will go up again to 100 Yen against dollar,maybe less until Government reveals its fiscal plan and how big it is,which is strongly expected.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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