Prime Minister Taro Aso, center, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, accompanied by senior party leaders, Takashi Sasakawa, left, and Hiroyuki Hosoda, bows as he arrives to speak to the media while observing the result of the parliamentary elections ballot counting at the party headquarters in Tokyo Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009. Aso conceded defeat in elections Sunday as media exit polls indicated the opposition had won by a landslide, sending the conservatives out of power after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change. AP Photo logo AP Photo 2 months ago

Prime Minister Taro Aso, center, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, accompanied by senior party leaders, Takashi Sasakawa, left, and Hiroyuki Hosoda, bows as he arrives to speak to the media while observing the result of the parliamentary elections ballot counting at the party headquarters in Tokyo Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009. Aso conceded defeat in elections Sunday as media exit polls indicated the opposition had won by a landslide, sending the conservatives out of power after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change.

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  1. Former Japanese finance minister Sadakazu Tanigaki (R) shakes hands with former prime minister and Japan's main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ex-leader Taro Aso (L) after Tanigaki was elected as the new LDP party leader in Tokyo on September 28, 2009. Tanigaki replaces Aso, who stepped down as LDP president and prime minister after an August 30 election rout.
  2. Former Japanese finance minister Sadakazu Tanigaki (R) shakes hands with former prime minister and Japan's main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ex-leader Taro Aso (L) after Tanigaki was elected as the new LDP party leader in Tokyo on September 28, 2009. Tanigaki replaces Aso, who stepped down as LDP president and prime minister after an August 30 election rout.
  3. Prime Minister Taro Aso, center, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, accompanied by senior party leaders, Takashi Sasakawa, left, and Hiroyuki Hosoda, bows as he arrives to speak to the media while observing the result of the parliamentary elections ballot counting at the party headquarters in Tokyo Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009. Aso conceded defeat in elections Sunday as media exit polls indicated the opposition had won by a landslide, sending the conservatives out of power after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change.
  4. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, right, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, speaks during a TV interview while observing the result of parliamentary elections ballot counting at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Aug. 30, 209. Aso conceded defeat in elections Sunday as media exit polls indicated the opposition had won by a landslide, sending the conservatives out of power after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change.
  5. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, left, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, chats with the party's Secretary-General Hiroyuki Hosoda during a TV interview on the ballot counting result for the parliamentary elections at the party headquarters in Tokyo Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009. Aso conceded defeat in elections Sunday as media exit polls indicated the opposition had won by a landslide, sending the conservatives out of power after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change.
  6. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, right, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, listens to a TV interview while observing the result of parliamentary elections ballot counting at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Aug. 30, 209. Aso conceded defeat in elections Sunday as media exit polls indicated the opposition had won by a landslide, sending the conservatives out of power after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change.
  7. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, right, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, leaves after speaking to the media while observing the result of parliamentary elections ballot counting at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Aug. 30, 209. Aso conceded defeat in elections Sunday as media exit polls indicated the opposition had won by a landslide, sending the conservatives out of power after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change. At left is the party's Secretary-General Hiroyuki Hosoda.
  8. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, center, leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, readies to take a seat for a nationwide TV press conference at the party headquarters in Tokyo Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009. Aso conceded defeat in elections Sunday as media exit polls indicated the opposition had won by a landslide, sending the conservatives out of power after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change. Watching him are Takashi Sasagawa, left, and Hiroyuki Hosoda, both the top party officials.
  9. TOKYO - AUGUST 30: Prime Minister and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Taro Aso (L) speaks to the media with Hiroyuki Hosoda, Secretary General of the LDP, during the Lower House Election at the party's headquarters on August 30, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won a landslide victory in the Lower House Election.
  10. TOKYO - AUGUST 30: Prime Minister and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Taro Aso (L) speaks to the media with Hiroyuki Hosoda, Secretary General of the LDP, during the Lower House Election at the party's headquarters on August 30, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won a landslide victory in the Lower House Election.
  11. Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Hiroyuki Hosoda places a rosette on a board listing party candidates at his party's headquarters as results come in for Japan's lower house election in Tokyo August 30, 2009. Japanese voted in a historic election on Sunday that looked set to oust the long-ruling conservative party and give the opposition the job of nurturing a recovery from the country's worst recession since World War Two.
  12. Prime Minister Taro Aso, left, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, drinks water as the party Secretary-General Hiroyuki Hosoda checks his mobile phone while observing the result of the parliamentary elections ballot counting at the party headquarters in Tokyo Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009. Japan's ruling party conceded a crushing defeatSunday after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule as voters were poised to hand the opposition a landslide victory in nationwide elections, driven by economic anxiety and a powerful desire for change.
  13. Prime Minister Taro Aso, center, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, accompanied by senior party leaders, Takashi Sasakawa, left, and Hiroyuki Hosoda, bows as he arrives to speak to the media while observing the result of the parliamentary elections ballot counting at the party headquarters in Tokyo Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009. Aso conceded defeat in elections Sunday as media exit polls indicated the opposition had won by a landslide, sending the conservatives out of power after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change.
  14. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, left, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, chats with the party's Secretary-General Hiroyuki Hosoda during a TV interview on the ballot counting result for the parliamentary elections at the party headquarters in Tokyo Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009. Aso conceded defeat in elections Sunday as media exit polls indicated the opposition had won by a landslide, sending the conservatives out of power after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change.
  15. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, right, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, leaves after speaking to the media while observing the result of parliamentary elections ballot counting at the party headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Sunday, Aug. 30, 209. Aso conceded defeat in elections Sunday as media exit polls indicated the opposition had won by a landslide, sending the conservatives out of power after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change. At left is the party's Secretary-General Hiroyuki Hosoda.
  16. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, center, leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, readies to take a seat for a nationwide TV press conference at the party headquarters in Tokyo Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009. Aso conceded defeat in elections Sunday as media exit polls indicated the opposition had won by a landslide, sending the conservatives out of power after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change. Watching him are Takashi Sasagawa, left, and Hiroyuki Hosoda, both the top party officials.

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