PM Abe touts "Beautiful Japan" despite poll defeat

By George Nishiyama and Isabel Reynolds

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office 10 months ago pledging to build a "Beautiful Nation" proud of its traditions and ready to play a bigger global role.

And despite his ruling camp's battering in an upper house election on Sunday as voters focused more on scandals and bungled pensions, Abe pledged to stick to his conservative agenda.

"The results reflect people's voices, but the policies I have promoted were not wrong," a tired and drawn Abe reiterated on Sunday, as he faced the public after an election that robbed his coalition of its upper house majority and could yet force him from office.

"I have the understanding of the people for my 'Beautiful Nation'-building and I believe that proceeding in that direction is the way to win back people's trust."

The 52-year-old Abe, Japan's first prime minister to be born after World War Two, vowed on his appointment last September to rewrite the country's U.S.-drafted pacifist constitution and revive traditional Japanese values and nurture patriotism.

"As for constitutional reform, I would like to do that during my tenure," Abe told a news conference after acknowledging defeat and taking the blame for the loss.

Sticking to that stance, though, may not play well with voters.

A survey by private broadcaster TBS showed that around 63 percent of respondents did not support Abe's vision of a "Beautiful Country" and close to 19 percent didn't understand it. Only around 18 percent who backed the concept.