Shinzō Abe next diet session. On 16 November 2012, Prime Minister Noda announced the dissolution of the lower house and that the general election would be held on 16 December. Abe campaigned using the slogan ""Nippon o Torimodosu"" (""Take back Japan""), promising economic revival through monetary easing, higher public spending and the continued use of nuclear energy, and a tough line in territorial disputes. In the elections on 16 December 2012, the LDP won 294 seats in the 480 seat House of Representatives. Together with the New Komeito Party (which has partnered with the LDP since the late 1990s), Abe was able
Public holidays in Japan Public holidays in Japan Prior to Japan's adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1873, the dates of holidays were based on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. Thus, New Year's Day, for example, was celebrated at the beginning of spring, as it is in modern China, Korea and Vietnam. Japan has 16 national, government-recognized holidays. The national holidays in 2018 are as follows. <nowiki>*</nowiki> When a holiday falls on a Sunday it is celebrated the following Monday. The national holidays in 2019 are as follows. <nowiki>*</nowiki> When a holiday falls on a Sunday it is celebrated the following Monday. In addition