Japan's Elections Set the Stage for Reforms

Japan's ruling coalition won the upper house July 21, surmounting the last obstacle in its bid to take full control of the government and pursue its vision of national revitalization. Up for grabs in the election were half of the 242 seats in the Japanese parliament's upper house. As expected, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party, under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and their coalition partner New Komeito, won a majority. The coalition now has a simple majority with 135 seats.