Old problems persist despite new poll

Restaurants and bars are always full in Tokyo in December, as it is the time for year-end parties and people tend to go drinking with their colleagues or clients for fun.

It is definitely not the time for politics. But Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has dampened the festive mood this year, at least in the first half of this month, by dissolving the House of Representatives, the more powerful chamber of Japan's parliament, and calling a snap election to be held on Sunday.

The other night when I was at a small restaurant in Tokyo's business district, the young company employees at the next tables were talking about who they will vote for.