Naoto Kan, leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and Japan's incumbent prime minister, speaks at the election assembly of DPJ, in Tokyo Sept. 14, 2010. DPJ started election of its leader Tuesday afternoon. The winner will become Japan's third prime minister in a year. Photo: Xinhua

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan won the presidential election of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) on Tuesday to remain as the country's leader.

Kan collected 721 points out of the total 1,222 points up for grabs, while DPJ kingpin Ichiro Ozawa got only 491 points.

"I am determined to revive Japan's economy and keep party unity within the DPJ," Kan said after the election victory.

"The election is over now. It's time for all the members of the DPJ to unite and keep the party's pledges," he added.

The DPJ's 411 members of parliament, local DPJ lawmakers and party members chose between the two men.

Reports suggest MPs, whose votes carry much more weight, are evenly split between the two men, while Kan was way ahead of Ozawa, the former DPJ secretary-general, in terms of support from local DPJ lawmakers and party members. Kan secured 249 points from party members and supporters, in contrast with Ozawa's 51 points.

The voting began after the two contenders deliver their final 15-minute speeches at an extraordinary party convention at a Tokyo hotel on Tuesday afternoon.

In his speech, Kan repeated the top priority is to boost the nation's economy out of decades-long deflation and creating employment.