The air was somber Sunday evening at the Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, as party executives faced the media as the rival Democratic Party of Japan scored a historic victory.
A board with the names of hundreds of LDP candidates had only a few red flowers pinned on it, indicating the party's sparse victories and reflecting what a drubbing the party had received.
With a grim face, Prime Minister Taro Aso said that he would step down to take responsibility for the huge loss.