Tough task for DPJ

Ruling coalition's poor showing in Japan's Upper House poll means no end in sight for political wrangling

The coalition government led by the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has suffered a big loss in the Upper House vote on Sunday, winning only 44 seats out of the contested 121, or half of the total 242 seats in the house. The People's New Party, the DPJ's coalition partner, failed to win any seat.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the biggest opposition group, won 51 seats compared with the 38 it held previously, and Your Party gained 10 seats, increasing the possibility that it will play a bigger role on the country's political stage.