Japan’s ruling LDP face tightening races in final election stretch

TOKYO — Whether Japan's ruling coalition will retain its majority in the lower house remains uncertain days before Sunday's election, with a Nikkei poll showing a close race in about half of single-seat constituencies.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which holds 279 of the 465 seats in the House of Representatives, and coalition partner Komeito appear set to lose to the opposition. The largest of these parties, the Constitutional Democratic Party, is aiming for 150 seats, a sharp increase from the previous 98 seats.