The July 29 House of Councilors election brought a landslide victory to the Democratic Party of Japan, which together with the other opposition forces gained a majority in the chamber. In addition, the DPJ won the largest number of seats on a single-party basis and thus will grab the Upper House presidency.

Although Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party still holds a majority in the more powerful Lower House, the ruling bloc's defeat in the Upper House is expected to cause political turbulence. Following are questions and answers regarding the repercussions:

What will change in politics after the ruling bloc's Upper House setback?