Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Friday dissolved the lower house of parliament for a general election, a media report said.
Abe hopes to gain a fresh mandate to continue his economic policies after putting off a major tax hike, Kyodo news reported.
Voting in the House of Representatives will be held Dec 14 following a two-week campaign from Dec 2.
Abe called a snap election Tuesday after postponement of the second round of sales tax hike by 18 months in the wake of the country's severe economic situation.