Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he is resolved to work on amending the Constitution and other priority policy issues pursued by former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who was shot dead last week.

Kishida was speaking to reporters on Monday after his ruling Liberal Democratic Party scored a major victory in Sunday's Upper House election.

Japan's ruling coalition scored a sweeping victory in Sunday's Upper House election.

The Liberal Democratic Party was able to win more than half the open seats without the help of its coalition partner, Komeito.

In Japan's Upper House election, a new party, Sanseito, is projected to win a seat for the first time. The party faced its first Diet election. It was formed two years ago.

Sanseito fielded candidates in all electoral districts, focusing on such issues as economic reform and food safety.

Germany's foreign minister has traveled to the atomic-bombed city of Nagasaki, western Japan, stressing her country's commitment to realizing a world without nuclear weapons.

Annalena Baerbock visited the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum in the city on Sunday. She received an explanation from officials, including Nagasaki Mayor Taue Tomihisa, about the extent of damage caused by the atomic bombing on August 9, 1945.

The leader of the Social Democratic Party, Fukushima Mizuho, is projected to retain her seat in the proportional representation segment.

The 66-year-old lawmaker has served four terms in the Upper House.

Japan's ruling coalition appears set to expand its pre-election force in the Upper House following Sunday's election.

The coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, along with two other parties in favor of amending the Constitution, are poised to hold more than two-thirds of the chamber, the threshold for starting the process to propose a change.

The NHK decision desk says independent incumbent Iha Yoichi has retained his seat in the Okinawa district.

Iha was the mayor of Ginowan City, where the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station is located.

NHK's decision desk is now projecting that the ruling coalition will win Sunday's election and increase its presence in the Upper House.

Our projections also show Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner, Komeito, have taken more than half of the available seats.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has pledged to move politics forward with "a huge sense of responsibility."

Kishida gave an interview to NHK a few hours after polling stations for Sunday's Upper House election closed.

Reiwa Shinsengumi's leader Yamamoto Taro is projected to win a seat in the Tokyo electoral district.

The actor and TV personality turned to politics in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011.

The Liberal Democratic Party's Ikuina Akiko is projected to win a seat for the first time in the Tokyo electoral district.

The 54-year-old political newcomer was a member of a girls' popular idol group Onyanko Club in the 1980s. She then became an actor and TV talent.

NHK's decision desk is projecting that the new LDP candidate Hoshi Hokuto will win his first seat in Fukushima.

Five candidates are vying for the district's single seat due to the retirement of an incumbent.

NHK's decision desk is projecting that the ruling coalition is certain to secure enough seats to maintain its force and keep a majority in the Upper House.

Our projections show Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner, Komeito, have taken more than half of the seats up for grabs.

The NHK decision desk is projecting that the Liberal Democratic Party's Asahi Kentaro, Komeito's Takeya Toshiko, Renho of the Constitutional Democratic Party and Yamazoe Taku of the Japanese Communist Party will retain their seats in Tokyo.

Incumbent lawmaker Asahi is expected to win a second term. He is a former beach volleyball Olympian.