nation. That is my task."
He pledged to cooperate with the Democratic Party of Japan, now the largest force in the Upper House, and heed public opinion.
But he ruled out dissolving the House of Representatives in the near future, deflecting the suggestion with the comment, "At this moment, I am not thinking about it."
On the other hand, the prime minister left the door open to a Cabinet reshuffle.
Asked if he will reshuffle the Cabinet before the extraordinary Diet session starts this fall, Abe said, "I will consider the timing after scrutinizing the outcome of this election."
The dire election outcome prompted some LDP executives to consider resigning.
Asked who was most responsible for the results, LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa said: "I am."
He later handed his letter of resignation to Abe.
Nakagawa acknowledged the government had failed to adequately respond to the political funds scandals engulfing some Cabinet members.
LDP caucus leader Mikio Aoki was also quick to accept blame, saying, "I am ready (to take responsibility and resign)." But neither leader was willing to comment on Abe's fate, declaring it was too soon to say whether he should step down while the election results remained uncertain.