Japan: A Potential Shift in Power?

Japan's House of Representatives will be dissolved during the week of July 19 and elections will be held on Aug. 30, Japanese media reported July 13, citing Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso. Aso's decision to announce his election plans comes after the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) made substantial gains in the Tokyo Municipal Assembly elections. Even if the DPJ emerges victorious in the legislative elections in August, however, it will not necessarily have long-term power or even have much of an effect on Japanese policies due to deeper social and economic changes driving Japan's political battles.