Politically savvy teen casts 1st early vote in lower house election

said she chose her party and candidate based on their foreign policies, taking into account North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile development programs and other international issues.

Pah ! Then that's definitely a vote for Muppet Face and his LDP cronies then.

Like it even matters in Japan's flawed democratic system....

Ah, the naivety...remember when we were young and took politicians at their word?

i hope when these two kiddos see the depths to which politicians lie, they don't get turned off politics but instead, are motivated to make change happen.

Good for you, Natsuki! You, too, Sho! Good for both of you! Your votes do matter!

She said she chose her party and candidate based on their foreign policies, taking into account North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile development programs and other international issues.

Very much agree with this point and my vote will be along the same lines.

"Before they raise the tax, I'd like them to make clear where (the revenue) is going to be used,"

Well Kiddo, the fact is that the government is racking up more than 30 trillion yen of additional debt every year, so where the 5 trillion extra from the tax hike in 2 years time is going to be used is, in fact, meaningless nonsense spouted by Abe in attempting to explain his desire to have a snap election at what he perceived to be a politically optimal time.

Just think of that future extra revenue as being spent on whatever you please, because in reality the government's ongoing out-of-control spending is funded significantly by debt each year, the problem is only getting worse and worse, and none of the parties have demonstrated concrete plans or options to deal with the problem. So it doesn't matter who you voted for. Good luck!

(That said, the Ishin party seems to have the best ideas about fixing the budget problems, but they only attract 1% popularity in the opinion polls and will therefore have virtually no influence on the direction of the country at all.)

So Abe scared a child into voting for him?

Before they raise the tax, I'd like them to make clear where (the revenue) is going to be used

Check out the idea of 'black hole' in your physics textbook. After that, check out the expression 'lack of' and the noun 'transparency' in your English dictionary.

Then bang your head on the desk.

Welcome to the electorate kid.

Well, you definitely won't change anything if you don't vote so good on them.