Noda Announces Resignation After His Party Suffered Big Loss In General Election

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda arrives for a press conference after his Democratic Party of Japan made a big loss in parliamentary election in Tokyo Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. Noda announced his resignation as the DPJ chief. Japan’s conservative Liberal Democratic Party returned to power in a landslide election victory Sunday after three years in opposition, exit polls showed, signaling a rightward shift in the government that could further heighten tensions with rival China. The DPJ slogan reads: Making decisions to get things moving. <AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye>

Yukiko Kada, leader of the Tomorrow Party, leaves after a news conference in Tokyo early Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. The staunchly anti-nuclear Tomorrow Party which was formed just three weeks ago captured between six and 15 seats, NHK estimated. Kada said she was very disappointed to see the Liberal Democratic Party, the original promoter of the nuclear energy policy and still the most pro-nuclear party making a big comeback. <AP Photo/Kyodo News>