Hiroaki Toya Tokyo "It's unbelievable how polarising a figure Koizumi is, but I'm on his side" Kozo Matsuda Nagasaki "I'll vote for the party that withdraws our troops from Iraq" Ryo Kishida Ginoza, Okinawa "I think Koizumi has done a good job"

Mikiko Maedomari Ishigaki, Okinawa "I'm not sure this election will make a difference" Tameyuki Takata Maniwa-shi "The DPJ shows respect to our Asian neighbours" Maki Ishiwata Memura, Hokkaido "I'd like to see the people of Japan have more political choice"

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi called the snap election after parliament rejected his plans to privatise Japan's postal system.

Mr Koizumi says the poll will allow the public to give their opinion of his reform agenda.

After the results are known, the panellists will give their verdict on the outcome.

The readers' panel has been selected from as wide a cross-section of people as possible and may not be representative of wider public opinion.