Abe takes up victory in upper house elections

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took up his victory in the election for the upper house of parliament, backed by voters favouring his economic policies.

The Exit polls suggested that his coalition won most of the 121 seats and thus increasing its majority, making reform much easier for Abe. However, his coalition partners are not going to make reforms very easy to pass promptly.  Two-thirds of the majority won, matching that in the lower house, could thus hold a vote on constitutional change, easing constraints on military action.