Abe pledges to boost economy as campaigning begins

The date draws closer for the Japanese upper house election, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has vowed to boost the country's economy. He made the remarks at a policy debate, just one day before election campaigning begins.

At the start of the debate, each party leader presented a handwritten message declaring their party's priority. Abe showed a board which read 'achieve results'. He admitted that his economic policies - known as the Abenomics - were insufficient. Opponents of Abe were vocal at the debate, with Opposition Democratic Party leader Katsuya Okada criticising Abe's eagerness to amend the constitution.

The two-hour debate among nine leaders focused on Abe's economic policies, tax hike delays and on revising Japan's peace constitution.

"During this time, we will change our gear level by two or three steps, rev up the engine, fully exit deflation and grow the economy, create an economy in which everyone will say the economy has gotten better. This is our first priority," Abe said.