Opposition DPJ wins Japan's lower house election by landslide

TOKYO, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won Sunday's general election by landslide victory, sweeping the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) out of almost unbroken power since 1955 to usher in a new era of Japanese politics.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leader Yukio  Hatoyama speaks during a news conference after his party won the  lower house election in Tokyo August 31, 2009. The DPJ is set to win Sunday's general election by landslide, sweeping the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) out of almost unbroken power since 1955 to usher in a new era of Japanese politics, showed by the exit polls.(Xinhua/Ren Zhenglai)

The DPJ secured 308 seats in the powerful 480-seat House of Representatives. The LDP, by contrast, won only 119 seats and its smaller ally New Komeito won 21 seats. Three other parties in the opposition bloc, Social Democratic Party, the Japanese Communist Party and the People's New Party won seven, nine and three seats respectively. according to broadcaster TV Asahi.

By winning the election, Yukio Hatoyama, 62-year-old head of DPJ and a political blueblood, will become Japan's next Prime Minister.

Before the election, the LDP has 300 seats and its partner New Komeito has 31, compared with 115 held by the DPJ.

"A huge number of people have spoken through their votes, and they have said we must change the way that we do politics in Japan," Hatoyama said at a televised press conference late Sunday.

"Our aspiration (for a change in the government) has been materialized. I want to express my gratitude to voters, and Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party"