As the nation went to the polls Sunday to put new lawmakers in the Upper House, many people interviewed by The Japan Times in Tokyo said they were putting their faith in the Liberal Democratic Party, which returned to power just seven months ago.
Many people said they had a positive opinion of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic strategy, while admitting it hasn't made a tangible difference in their daily lives yet. But they expressed hope that "Abenomics," a mix of radical quantitative easing fiscal stimulus and promised reforms, will eventually improve the economy.
In the western Tokyo suburb of Musashino, Yoshiki Akasaka, a 21-year-old university student, said he voted for the LDP because he was fed up with the Democratic Party of Japan, which he accused of "failing to accomplish anything significant."