The Liberal Democratic Party, now led by Shinzo Abe, has ruled Japan for six decades, only briefing slipping from power during 1993-96 (in the wake of the real estate collapse) and during 2009-12 (under the Democratic Party).
Japan's prime minister is playing his political cards carefully as he gambles that his party can hold on to power. Shinzo Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will soon face a contest at the polls that could challenge his grip on the government and affect the party's ability to ram through its legislative agenda. The Oct. 22 general elections will pit LDP lawmakers against the conservative upstart Hope Party, led by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike . And with an LDP leadership contest looming in late 2018, these elections could determine whether Abe can secure his tenure through 2020. At stake is Abe's ambitious reform agenda, which aims to tackle Japan's economic stagnation and looming demographic crunch and to shepherd the country's slow transition back to a more active role in the Pacific order.
