DPJ Takes Power In Landslide Victory

The Democratic Party of Japan(DPJ) has ousted the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), clinching 308 of the 480 seats in Sunday's lower house vote. Media reported that DPJ began with a big lead, but the result was still a big shock to the LDP members. Before the election, the LDP had 300 seats and its partner New Komeito had 31, compared with just 115 held by the DPJ. DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama will become the country's next prime minister in a special Diet session scheduled for mid-September.