Japan's PM reaches out as phone app

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is now a smart phone app.

He's the star of 'Abe Hop', a new game released by his LDP party.

The aim is to win points and change the premiere's clothes from a suit up to a 'Superman' costume.

Head of the LDP's Internet Strategy Team says they want to bring the ruling party closer to the people.

The Abe app comes ahead of Japan's upper house elections next month.

It's the first time parties have been able to campaign online here.

And the LDP might just grab some attention with Japan's tech mad youth.

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 22-YEAR-OLD TOKYO RESIDENT EMI YAMADA, SAYING:

"Yes it really gets you thinking about politics, it makes me think I should vote for him."

Abe is already known as a keen user of social media, with more than 370,000 Facebook followers.

He's widely tipped to win July's election, after a landslide victory last year.