TOKYO: Japan's powerful lower house of parliament on Tuesday approved veteran lawmaker Yasuo Fukuda as prime minister, making it virtually certain he will replace Shinzo Abe.

Fukuda received 338 votes against 117 for main opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa in a mostly party-line vote, the parliament announced.

"As a result, we have decided to appoint Mr. Yasuo Fukuda as the prime minister," Speaker Yohei Kono announced.

The upper house, where the opposition won control in July elections, was still voting.

It is expected to endorse Ozawa as prime minister, bringing the decision on the prime minister to a committee where the lower house's choice of Fukuda would prevail.