Prime minister Yoshihiko Noda has dissolved the lower house of Japan’s parliament, paving the way for a general election likely to end his Democratic Party of Japan’s three-year hold on power.

Asian stock markets mostly struggled to advance today after data showed Europe slipped back into recession and several big US retailers disappointed investors with weak forecasts.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has survived a challenge to his leadership after being re-elected as president of the ruling Democratic Party.

Japan’s new liberal prime minister shunned a visit to a shrine which has outraged Asian neighbours for honouring war criminals, breaking from past governments’ tradition and instead apologising today for the suffering World War II caused.

JAPAN’S next prime minister began forming a government yesterday, as investors worried the untested Democratic Party would overspend in a bid to revive the economy or would ruffle ties with Tokyo’s closest ally, Washington.

JAPAN’s ruling partyconceded a crushing defeat after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule as voters were poised to hand the opposition a landslide victory in nationwide elections, driven by economic anxiety and a powerful desire for change.

FLAMBOYANT conservative Taro Aso took charge as Japan’s new prime minister yesterday, pledging to work for a “cheerful” nation by reviving an economy in the doldrums.

Outspoken conservative Taro Aso took power as Japan's prime minister today after he overcame opposition forces in the split parliament, tasked with rejuvenating the ailing ruling party ahead of elections.

A former defence minister today announced she would try to become Japan’s first female prime minister, as candidates made it clear today that rejuvenating the world’s second-largest economy would be the focus of the upcoming election battle.

The veteran politician selected by Japan's troubled ruling party as its pick for prime minister chose his right-hand men today.

VETERAN moderate Yasuo Fukuda easily won election as Japan’s ruling party president yesterday, pledging to keep a pro-US foreign policy and improve ties with Asia after he almost certainly becomes prime minister later this week.

Moderate veteran Yasuo Fukuda easily won election as president of Japan's struggling ruling party today, assuring his selection as the new prime minister in a parliamentary vote later this week.

Ailing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will remain in hospital indefinitely with stress-related stomach problems, but the government has no plans to name an acting premier, an official said today.

Yasuo Fukuda appeared destined to become Japan’s new prime minister as his sole challenger admitted today he was likely to lose the ruling party’s upcoming leadership election.

There are continuing calls for a snap election in Japan, as the ruling party prepares for a ballot to replace outgoing Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe.

Former Foreign Minister Taro Aso declared his candidacy today to replace Japan’s prime minister, running as the conservative choice against dovish former Cabinet secretary Yasuo Fukuda.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today announced he would resign, ending a troubled year-old government that has suffered a string of damaging scandals and a humiliating electoral defeat.

Japan’s agriculture minister resigned today only a week after his appointment because of a scandal involving misuse of farm subsidies.

Prime minister Shinzo Abe took the blame for the humiliating defeat of his scandal-plagued coalition in Japan’s upper house election, but pledged to remain in office despite expected calls for his resignation.

Japan’s prime minister faced growing calls to resign today, a day after his coalition suffered a humiliating election defeat that claimed the job of his ruling party’s secretary general and may trigger a Cabinet overhaul.

JAPANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government suffered a crushing defeat in upper house elections yesterday but the conservative leader insisted he would stay in power.

Japan’s ruling party suffered a devastating defeat in parliamentary elections today, as voters angry at a spate of government scandals revolted against embattled Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Japan’s ruling party suffered a major loss in parliamentary elections today, while the leading opposition party made huge gains, according to exit polls.

The Japanese parliament today voted down a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government submitted by four opposition parties over staged public hearings and other policies.

Nationalist Shinzo Abe, a proponent of a tight alliance with the US and a more assertive military, won election as Japan’s new prime minister today, scoring comfortable majorities in both houses.

NATIONALIST candidate Shinzo Abe won the race for Japan’s ruling party leader yesterday, all but clinching election next week as prime minister and pledging to make his country a more robust force on the world stage.

Nationalist candidate Shinzo Abe won the race for Japan's ruling party leader today, all but clinching election next week as prime minister and pledging to make his country a more robust force on the world stage.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso today officially announced his candidacy to replace Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi next month, despite polls that show him trailing far behind the front-runner, his office said.

REGIONAL tensions rose amid speculation that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi would visit a shrine for war dead tomorrow, on the anniversary of Tokyo’s World War Two surrender, which is seen by critics as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism.

The Japanese government will officially approve the resumption of US beef imports from selected meat processing plants tomorrow, a news report said today.

Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi today said party elections to choose his successor will kick off on September 8, with the vote possibly taking place on September 20.

Japan will push ahead with wide-ranging reforms and strengthen its relations with China and South Korea, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said today, in what may be his last annual policy speech to parliament.

Japan’s ruling party today approved its final draft of a proposed revision of the country’s pacifist constitution that would drop a clause outlawing war and give the military a greater role in international security.

More members of Japan’s newly elected parliament believe Japanese troops should be withdrawn from Iraq when their mission expires in December than believe they should stay, a survey said today.

PRIME Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s triumph in parliamentary polls handed the leader a new mandate yesterday to turn promises into action for sweeping economic reforms.

Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi’s stunning triumph in parliamentary polls has handed the leader a new mandate to harness his revitalised ruling party and turn promises into action for a range of sweeping economic reforms.

Japanese voters cast their votes in nationwide parliamentary elections today which look likely to strengthen Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s grip on power and invigorate the leader’s push for economic reforms, including his long-cherished plan to privatise the nation’s postal system.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was riding high today in the homestretch of the campaign for weekend parliamentary elections, boosted by polls forecasting a comfortable win by the party that has ruled Japan for a half-century.

Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi today said he will step down in September 2006 at the end of his term as head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, even if the ruling coalition wins a majority in the forthcoming elections.

Japan’s upper house of Parliament voted down legislation to split up and sell the country’s postal service today, prompting Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to follow through on a threat to call snap elections that could shake the ruling party’s grip on power.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s party lost seats but held on to a majority in weekend parliamentary elections in Japan.

JAPANESE Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s ruling coalition narrowly kept control of the upper house of Parliament in nationwide elections yesterday.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s ruling coalition narrowly kept control of the upper house of Parliament in nationwide elections today.