Far East Cynic

Interesting turns

Finished with the meetings today and getting everything arranged for the exercise in pain next month in Korea.

Talked to the S.O. today. I have never, ever , heard her talk so much about politics so much before. She even e-mailed me to tell me about LDP getting their ass handed to them in the House of Councillors election. Amazing. She was positively giddy about Abe-san being in really big trouble politically.

Read for yourself.

Simply amazing. I’ve know the woman for over five years,and I have never seen her this interested in politics. Every time I think I have her figured out-she goes and surprises me.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition was thoroughly trounced in Sunday’s election, losing its majority in the House of Councilors, nearly complete returns showed.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe faces reporters Sunday night at Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo after confirmation of the LDP defeat in the Upper House poll.

The Democratic Party of Japan meanwhile took over as the leading force in the Upper House.

Despite the huge setback for his Liberal Democratic Party, Abe said he plans to stay in power.

“As prime minister, I have promised to carry out reforms . . . and it is my duty (as prime minister) to fulfill that promise,” he said in a televised interview at LDP headquarters.

As of 12:30 a.m. Monday, the DPJ had captured 59 seats, far better than the 35 gained by the LDP, with results for seven of the 121 seats up for grabs still undecided, according to Kyodo News.

New Komeito, the LDP’s junior coalition ally, secured seven seats, while the Japanese Communist Party won three and the Social Democratic Party captured one.

The combined seats won by the LDP and New Komeito fell far short of the 64 they needed to keep control of the Upper House.