Hashimoto has felt the heat of intense criticism at home and abroad in the past year as the world's second largest economy has slid into its worst post war recession.

As unemployment climbs to record highs and bankruptcies mount, polls have shown traditionally loyal voters will take their toll in Sunday's elections, in which half the Chamber's 252-seats are up for grabs.

The financial markets are preparing for bad news, with dealers pushing down the yen against the dollar today and warning they will keep selling the Japanese currency next week whatever the result.

All eyes are on whether the premier's Liberal Democratic Party can add to the 61 seats it holds among the 126 up for re-election. The party has held power in Japan for the past 43 years, barring a 10-month break from mid-1993.

``Prime Minister Hashimotoshould give up power without any question if he comes out with less than the 61 seats,'' Masakuni Murakami, the party's Upper House leader, warned.

The 61 seats include that of Juro Saito, the president of the chamber, who has officially left the party but still sides with them as an independent.