TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese began voting in an  election today that looks set to topple the long-ruling  conservative party, handing the novice opposition the job of  reviving a weak economy and coping with a fast-ageing population.

A victory by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) would end  more than 50 years of almost unbroken rule by Prime Minister Taro  Aso’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and break a deadlock in  parliament, where the opposition and its allies won control of  the less powerful upper chamber in 2007 and can delay bills.

The Democrats have pledged to refocus spending on households  with child allowances and aid for farmers while wresting control  of policy from bureaucrats, often blamed for Japan’s failure to  address problems such as a creaking pension system.

The party also wants to forge a diplomatic stance more  independent of key security ally the United States while building  better ties with Asia, often frayed by bitter wartime memories.

Voting in the lower house election began at 7 am (2200 GMT  Saturday) and will finish at 8 pm (1100 GMT).

Japanese media will announce the results of exit polls  immediately after voting ends. Later in the evening they will  issue further projections based on partial vote counts.