Leaders of the ruling and opposition parties took to the streets across Japan on Saturday in last-minute efforts to woo voters on the eve of the House of Representatives general election.
At stake is whether the public opts to keep the ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party, in control of the 480-seat Lower House, or usher in a new government led by the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan.
It is the first general election for the Lower House, which elects the prime minister, since Koizumi took office in April 2001. Voting will end at 8 p.m. Sunday and results for all 480 seats are expected to be made known by sometime after 3 a.m. Monday.