Leaders of the major parties made their final pitches Saturday ahead of the House of Councilors election, with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi calling on voters to support his reform efforts amid dismal forecasts for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

"I am determined to accept criticism and further put the reform line on track," Koizumi, president of the Liberal Democratic Party, told an audience in front of JR Osaka Station, acknowledging that the election is a referendum on his reform drives.

The party leaders took to the streets across the country in last-ditch efforts before the official 17-day campaign period ended Saturday evening.