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| Japan vote starts |
| Tokyo, 21.07.2013 |
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| Japanese voters started to vote in Sunday's election for the upper House, with polling stations opening at 7 am (2200 GMT Saturday) throughout Japan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is expected to win in the race, regaining control of the upper chamber of parliament, according to major polls.
Abe, a nationalist who took office in December, appealed to voters to support his government's economic policies as he vowed to pull the world's third-largest economy out of 15 years of deflation.
In December, the LDP won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections for the more powerful lower house, returning to power for the first time in more than three years.
In the first national election since December, the LDP and its junior coalition partner, the New Komeito, were expected to control a majority of 122 seats or more in the upper house.
The upper house has elections for half of its 242 seats every three years, and this year 433 candidates are competing for the 121 seats up for grabs.
In 2007, the LDP led by then-premier Abe suffered a heavy defeat, losing control of the upper house for the first time in the party's history, which started the current political gridlock. Two months later, Abe abruptly stepped down, citing ill health.
On Sunday, polling centres will close at 8 pm.
Japan's PM set to win Sunday's vote
Japan goes to the polls on Sunday for upper house elections expected to deliver a win for PM Shinzo Abe.
Half of the 242 seats in the chamber are up for grabs.
Polls show Mr Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its allies could secure a majority, meaning a ruling party would control both houses of parliament for the first time in six years.
The deadlock in parliament has been seen as a key factor in Japan's recent "revolving door" of prime ministers.
Japan's upper house, while not as powerful as its lower house, is able to block legislation introduced by the government.
No single party has a majority, although the opposition Democratic Party of Japan has the highest number of seats.
Voice of Russia, DPA, BBC
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