The people had hopes that Koizumi would change the LDP, but he was not able to do that. Rather, domestic reform has not progressed, and foreign policy is beset on all sides.

Please change the government and give us a chance.

In his four years and four months in power, Koizumi was unable to carry out reform. In order to carry out true reform, there has to be a change in government. We are not fettered...

The fact that you, as secretary general of a political party, made remarks contrary to the fact in a forum such as a news conference can mislead the public and is very regrettable. I strongly...

In elections, you can’t tell the outcome until you open the ballot boxes.

I did what I had to do, but it was frustrating that we were never really arguing on the same plane. I wanted to debate policy.

The reform of Japan starts today. There is no tomorrow for the Koizumi LDP government, which spends all its time in internal power struggles.

We’d like to celebrate the news with the people.

The only thing that can change Japan is a change in government.

I firmly believe our stance to focus on our policies was not wrong. Our message did not reach people. I regret that.

Over four years and five months, there has been no `net decrease,’ … He has been skillfully outmaneuvered by bureaucrats.

There is no time left. We must change the administration in order to ensure the success of the reform initiatives.

If you make your voting decision based only on the postal privatization, it would mean (Koizumi) would exploit it and would say the public entrusted him with all other decisions as well.

Despite running our campaign with our priority on manifestoes and policies, we failed to secure support from the voters,

True reform can only happen with a change in government.

Koizumi always says the same thing. Nearly 90 percent of his speech is about postal privatization issues. This election will decide the next three to four years of Japan’s future, and important issues should be...

(Prime Minister Junichiro) Koizumi’s Liberal Democratic Party focused on a single issue of pros and cons regarding postal privatization–and the voters’ attention was diverted to it.

The overall situation has now become clear … the DPJ has suffered a great setback.

I resign from the head of the party. I would like the party to select a new leader without any delay. Our message did not reach people. I regret that.

The biggest reason for our defeat is that we lost a lot of seats in urban areas where we were supposed have major support,

The depth of the middle class is waning as the polarization of society is in progress,

For the first time in the postwar period we will openly go head-to-head in elections and we aim … to take power. The moment is coming when Japan’s democracy will be tested.

I think our party members staked (the party’s future) on the Maehara’s youth and ability … It is utterly necessary for each DPJ lawmaker and other rank-and-file members to back the new leader and stick...

Koizumi says postal privatization is the focus of the elections. Is that so? I say definitely no!

For those who think the current pension system isn’t working, we want you to vote for the Democratic Party and let us carry through pension reforms under a Democratic administration.

Our policies weren’t wrong, but I have to reflect on the fact they did not get across.

Unless we change the government now, it may be too late.

The situation now is not easy. But I believe in the good sense of the Japanese people.

We’ve been steadily making efforts for this day. Now we have finally came to this opportunity to change the government.

I don’t believe that the people are naive enough to accept the prime minister’s assertion that foreign affairs and other issues will be resolved if the postal services are privatized.

We want to stress the importance of pension and child-care issues … The Koizumi government cannot achieve these reforms. We need a change in government,

This country will not change without a change of government, … I don’t believe that the people are na ”,ve enough to accept the prime minister’s assertion that foreign affairs and other issues will be...

The people have issued a resounding `no’ to Koizumi’s policies,

Koizumi speaks as if everything will be rosy for Japan if only these bills are passed,

Many people feel anxious about the future,

We did not expect this. I don’t think our policies were wrong, but we must reconsider our tactics.

The people have issued a resounding ‘no’ to Koizumi’s policies.