The British media in reporting the Japanese election results commented that these were much as expected. They did not see Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's election win as a ringing endorsement of him or his policies. He had won because there was no credible alternative.

The fact that only 52 percent of the electorate bothered to vote was highlighted. Some thought that many voters who did vote for the Liberal Democratic Party did so "holding their noses" or shutting their eyes.

Serious commentators here urge Abe to concentrate on pushing through his economic reforms, in particular ensuring that the liberalization envisaged in his third arrow really is carried out.