Analysis: With victory, Democrats must convince skeptical public that they can deliver change

TOKYO — Sunday’s election results in Japan may seem like a clear mandate for change. Looks can be misleading.

Japan’s new leaders to seek closer ties with Asia, but not at expense of US alliance

TOKYO — As Japan’s opposition leader, Yukio Hatoyama was a strong critic of what he called Tokyo’s subservient position to Washington. But with his party now expected to take power, he is not likely to do anything to derail what has been Japan’s most successful overseas alliance, analysts said.

Opposition poised to win landslide victory in Japan, unseating long-ruling conservatives

TOKYO — Japan’s opposition swept to a historic victory in elections Sunday, crushing the ruling conservative party that has run the country for most of the postwar era and assuming the daunting task of pulling the economy out of its worst slump since World War II.

Japanese opposition leader Hatoyama, a political blue blood, had long wait in wings

TOKYO — Though politics is in his blood, Japan’s opposition leader Yukio Hatoyama has had a long wait in the wings.

Japan’s ruling party concedes election defeat; opposition poised to win landslide victory

TOKYO — Japan’s Prime Minister Taro Aso conceded defeat in elections Sunday as media exit polls indicated the opposition had won by a landslide, sending the conservatives out of power after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change.

Japanese prime minister concedes defeat in election, suggests he will resign as party leader

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso has conceded defeat in nationwide elections, suggesting he will step down from his position as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Media projects opposition wins landslide victory in Japan elections

TOKYO — Japan’s opposition party won historic elections in an apparent landslide Sunday, media projections said, sending the conservatives to defeat after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change.

Campaigning begins for hotly contested Japan elections; ruling party seen as underdog

TOKYO — Political leaders took to the streets Tuesday as campaigning kicked off in one of the most hotly contested elections Japan has seen in more than a decade, a race in which the party that has ruled the country for most of the past 55 years is considered a distant underdog.

Campaigning begins for Japan’s hotly contested elections; ruling party seen as underdog

TOKYO — Campaigning began Tuesday for one of the most hotly contested elections Japan has seen in more than a decade, with a major poll saying the party that has run the country for most of the past 55 years is lagging far behind the opposition.

Analysis: Japan’s ruling party could fall in August vote, heralding new political era

TOKYO — A more independent foreign policy, less closely tied to the will of Washington. Tighter fiscal measures, with a slimmer government and a shorter leash on Japan’s powerful bureaucrats. More military missions abroad with international peacekeeping forces.

Japanese voter poll shows opposition party could be headed for big gains in national election

TOKYO — A poll published Wednesday by Japan’s largest newspaper indicated that Prime Minister Taro Aso’s ruling party is headed for big losses in the upcoming national election — the latest sign that a surging opposition could grab control of the country for the first time in more than a decade.

Japan PM to dissolve parliament, call national elections after crushing defeat in Tokyo vote

TOKYO — Japan’s struggling prime minister called Monday for national elections next month following a crushing defeat for his party in a Tokyo municipal election seen as a barometer of voter sentiment.

Japan’s embattled prime minister to reportedly dissolve parliament, call general elections

TOKYO — Japan’s embattled prime minister has decided to dissolve parliament and call general elections for next month, a news report said Monday, after his party was defeated in a Tokyo municipal poll considered a barometer of voter sentiment.