Japan's economy has slid back into a technical recessionJapanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called a parliamentary election for mid-December 2014, two years ahead of schedule. The BBC's explains why he chose to do this and what it might mean.
Mr Abe wants to ensure he has public support to push through his plans to revive the economy.
On 17 November, official numbers showed that Japan's economic output had shrunk for the second quarter in a row - which means the nation is now in what is called a technical recession.
The numbers also showed that growth in private consumption, which accounts for about 60% of Japan's economic health, was much weaker than expected.
Many analysts say that an increase in the country's sales tax in April which was intended to boost the national coffers has instead put consumers off buying new things, especially big ticket items like cars.
The increase in April was from 5% to 8% and there are currently plans to raise it again next year to 10%. Mr Abe wants to delay this, and sees an election win as giving him a mandate to do so.
"Ordinary people in Japan have stopped spending money," reports Tokyo Correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes
Does this mean 'Abenomics' failed?
Mr Abe came to power in 2012 with a plan for economic reform. Launched the following year, the plan - which became known as Abenomics - was designed to help pull Japan out of two decades of deflation and kick-start its stagnant economy.
The plan was made-up of three so-called arrows: monetary policy; fiscal stimulus; and structural reforms.
At first, the plan appeared to be working. Japan's central bank helped pump billions of dollars into the economy via its big stimulus package, and was confident enough to set a new inflation target of 2%.
The value of the yen weakened, which is a good thing for the nation's big exporters because it helps make Japanese goods cheaper to buy. And investors have been encouraged to buy shares in Japanese-listed firms, which has seen the stock market soar.
But the introduction of the sales tax, aimed at curbing Japan's crippling public debt, on the back of these improvements dented consumer confidence, which is vital to Japan's economic survival and ongoing growth.
Abenomics: The objectives and the risks
An anti-nuclear power plant demonstrator holds a placard during a protest against restarting Sendai Nuclear Power Plant of Kyushu Electric Power Co. outside the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, 07 November 2014
Nuclear energy and collective self defensive are unpopular policies that Mr Abe supports
So is it all about the economy?
Not entirely. If Mr Abe's plan works and he is able to solidify his majority in the lower house he could gain a broader mandate to push through a number of publicly unpopular moves.
His cabinet has agreed a reinterpretation of Japan's post-war pacifist constitution to allow for the use of force to defend allies under attack, known as collective self-defence. Related legislation now needs to be passed by parliament.
Mr Abe also supports a return to the use of nuclear power to generate electricity to cut down on Japan's expensive energy imports.
After the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, public opinion has turned against nuclear power and all of Japan's reactors are currently inactive.
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