All media polls suggest the ruling Democratic Party of Japan will be crushed in the Lower House election Dec. 16 and that the Liberal Democratic Party will return to power for the first time in three years.

But Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, the DPJ's president, insisted Monday he remains committed to keeping the DPJ on top and brushed aside concerns he might lose his seat in Chiba Prefecture in the race.

"There is no mistake that it will be a difficult election" for the DPJ, Noda said at a group interview with the media, including The Japan Times.