Mr Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition¹ partner have a two-thirds majority in the lower house.

 

The governing Democratic Party (DPJ) suffered major losses in the poll, with leader Yoshihiko Noda stepping down. 

 

Mr Abe, who was prime minister in 2006-07, is expected to form a new cabinet later on Wednesday.

 

He is seen as a hawkish²（鹰派的）, right-of-centre leader whose previous term in office ended ignominiously³（可耻地） amid falling popularity and a resignation on grounds of ill health.

 

 

Mr Abe, 58, has also called for Japan's pacifist constitution to be revised and patriotic⁴ sentiment nurtured⁵. 

 

The DPJ was elected in 2009 on its promise to increase welfare spending and break ties between the bureaucracy and big business. 

 

But its failure to deliver on the economy and response to the 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami⁶ lost it support. 

 

This time round Mr Abe campaigned on a platform promising⁷ an end to years of economic stagnation⁸, with more public spending and a looser monetary⁹ policy.

 

But some economists¹⁰ say there is little new in Mr Abe's policies, or "Abenomics" as they have been called. 

 

He has also said he would allow nuclear energy a role in Japan's future despite last year's disaster.

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