Japan's population is ageing at an alarming rate. The country has the highest proportion of elderly in the world. Twenty-two per cent of its people are 65 or older.

It also has the second lowest birth rate in the world after Hong Kong. That could explain why the Democratic Party of Japan's child allowance of $270 a month is such a popular platform.

Fifty one per cent of people in their twenties say they will vote. That's up from 46 per cent four years ago.

But the figure is low compared to the 84 per cent of people in their sixties who plan to vote.

Overall turnout is expected at 74 per cent.

Al Jazeera's Steve Chao reports from Nara, Japan, on how the age factor is affecting this year's election.