Voters stream into a polling center in Tokyo Sunday to cast their ballots in what many say will result in a majority win for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
The LDP is expected to win more than 70 of the 121 upper house seats that are up for grabs.
The win would end six years of parliamentary deadlock in which the opposition has for the most part prevented legislation from passing.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 73-YEAR-OLD BUSINESSMAN WHO VOTED FOR THE RULING LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (LDP), HITOSHI KAMIKATA, SAYING:
"The political landscape has been turned upside down every year over the past six years and that uncertainty has made Japan lose its status in the international community. So I believe it's important that we have a long-lasting government."
The win would also give Abe the green light to put his Abenomics plan for fixing the economy into action.
Official results are expected late Sunday or early Monday.
