It looks as if I will be in Japan in interesting times...

From the Japan Times:

Monday’s rejection by the House of Councilors of the postal privatization bills has left the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party sharply divided as it faces a general election in the coming weeks and a possible fall from power.

The LDP, which has enjoyed almost uninterrupted single-party rule since 1955, has seen its power wane since the early 1990s. It has only managed to hang on to the reins of government through coalitions and, since Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s inauguration in April 2001, his charisma and popularity.

Perhaps not all my blogging from there will be about “best sushi bars” after all (though there will be some of that, I promise). On the other hand, Forbes is reporting a jump in Koizumi’s popularity after the PM called for a snap election.