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  JAPAN

  Opposition heading for landslide election win

  Exit polls say the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has roundly defeated Taro Aso's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the country's general election, ending the latter party's five-decade rule.
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  JAPAN

  High voter turnout in legislative elections

  Japanese voters head to polls Sunday for legislative elections that could see the centre-left Democratic Party of Japan, led by Yukio Hatoyama (pictured), unseat the ruling conservatives of Prime Minister Taro Aso for the first time in five decades.
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  JAPAN

  Opposition scents victory as campaign draws to an end

  Japan's political leaders wound up campaigning on Saturday ahead of key legislative elections that could see the end of the ruling conservatives' almost unbroken hold on power since 1955.
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  JAPAN

  Economic worries to play a key role in legislative vote

  Japan goes to the polls on Sunday in legislative elections that could see the end of the ruling conservatives' almost unbroken hold on power since 1955 and the emergence of the Democratic Party of Japan – with a radical economic agenda.
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  JAPAN

  Jobless rate hits record high ahead of legislative elections

  Japan's jobless rate hit a record post-war high according to new figures released on Friday, rising to 5.7 percent in July. The results increase the pressure on beleaguered Prime Minister Taro Aso, just two days ahead of legislative elections.
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  JAPAN

  Yukio Hatoyama, the Japanese Kennedy

  A discreet man who hails from a political dynasty, Yukio Hatoyama is favourite to win the legislative elections on August 30. FRANCE 24 takes a closer look at the man who could put an end to 50 years of conservative rule in Japan.

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  JAPAN

  Historic chance for opposition as election campaign begins

  Japan's election campaign has officially begun, with the centre-left Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) well positioned in opinion polls to wrestle leadership away from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), in power for nearly half a century.
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  JAPAN

  Unemployment hits six-year high

  Japan's jobless rate hit a six-year high of 5.4 percent in June, putting the unemployment rate on course to rise above post-World War II levels. The country is suffering its worst recession in decades.

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  JAPAN

  PM dissolves parliament ahead of general election

  Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has dissolved the lower house of parliament to ready the country for a general elections on August 30 which could see the opposition DPJ take power from the LDP for the first time since 1955.
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  JAPAN

  Embattled premier to call general election for Aug. 30, party official says

  Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso is expected to call a general election for August 30, a party official has said. Pressure for Aso to step down was expected to grow after his ruling party lost its majority in Sunday's Tokyo assembly vote.