 humbly manage his administration as he grapples with its policy challenges going forward.

The yet another landslide for the LDP-Komeito alliance — the fifth in a row in nationwide Diet races since Abe returned the coalition to power in 2012 — belies the sagging, though still steady, popular support for his administration, whose approval ratings were outnumbered by disapproval in most media polls taken before the election. A series of scandals that hit the administration and LDP lawmakers resulted in heavy losses for the party in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election in July.

Abe’s decision to dissolve the Lower House last month for Sunday’s snap election was apparently intended to catch the opposition off guard and maximize the chances of the ruling coalition. The then top opposition Democratic Party was in tatters, and Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike had yet to make the widely anticipated attempt to replicate her local party’s success in the Tokyo assembly race in national politics.

Koike’s move to launch the Kibo no To (Party of Hope) party just as Abe announced his decision to call the snap election — and the DP leadership’s surprise decision to effectively disband the party and have its members run on the ticket of the popular governor’s party — appeared to create a potent contender. But DP members were split into three groups — those running as Kibo no To candidates, those running as independents and those forming the new Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) — after Koike said she’d reject members who refused to change their position on the security legislation enacted in 2015.

The realignment that Koike triggered in the lead-up to the campaign thus ended up fragmenting the opposition forces, instead of uniting them. In roughly 70 percent of the 289 single-seat electoral districts across the country, the opposition forces competed with each other — to the benefit the ruling coalition, which went on to sweep more than 80 percent of the contested seats. Even though Koike’s party said it aimed to take power in the election, the decision by Koike not to run in the race herself — and the party’s failure to put up any other prime ministerial candidate — dissipated voters’ expectations for the new force.

The poor performance by Koike’s party was symbolized by its dismal results in Tokyo, the governor’s home turf where her local party upset the LDP in the assembly race just three months earlier. Only one of the 23
humbly manage his administration as he grapples with its policy challenge sound forward. 

 The yet another landslide for the LDP - Komeito alliance — the fifth in a course in nationwide Diet races since Abe reelect the coalescence to power in 2012 — contradict the sagging, though still steady, democratic support for his administration, whose approval ratings were outnumber by disapproval in most media poll taken before the election. A series of scandal that hit the administration and LDP lawmakers result in heavy losses for the party in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election in July. 

 Abe ’s decision to disband the Lower House last calendar month for Sunday ’s snap election was apparently intended to catch the opposition off guard duty and maximize the chances of the ruling coalition. The then top opposition Democratic Party was in tatters, and Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike hold yet to make the widely anticipated attempt to replicate her local party ’s success in the Tokyo assembly subspecies in national politics. 

 Koike ’s move to plunge the Kibo no To (Party of Hope) party barely as Abe announced his decision to call the snap election — and the displaced person leadership ’s surprise decision to efficaciously disband the party and have its members run on the tag of the popular governor ’s party — appeared to create a potent contender. But DP members were split into three groups — those running as Kibo no To candidates, those running as mugwump and those forming the fresh Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) — after Koike said she ’d reject members who refused to change their stead on the security legislation enacted in 2015. 

 The realignment that Koike triggered in the spark advance - up to the campaign thus ended up fragmenting the confrontation forces, instead of unite them. In roughly 70 percentage of the 289 single - seat electoral districts across the country, the enemy forces competed with each early — to the benefit the ruling coalition, which went on to sweep more than 80 percent of the contested seats. Even though Koike ’s party said it aimed to take power in the election, the decision by Koike not to scat in the race herself — and the party ’s failure to arrange up any other prime ministerial campaigner — dissipated voters ’ expectations for the new force. 

 The poor performance by Koike ’s party was symbolized by its dismal results in Tokyo, the governor ’s home turf where her local party disturb the LDP in the fabrication subspecies just three months earlier. Only one of the 23
 hulbly manage his administvation as he grakpoes wivh its lolicy cfallenges going forward.

The yxt abothee landslide for the LDO-Komeito wlliance — tht fifth in a row mh natiokcide Slet rccxs since Abe rejurned the cmalition to pofef nn 2012 — belies the sagging, though still steady, plpular support for ris zdministration, whose approval ratihgs wert outnumbered by dosapproval in most media pllls taken before the flection. A weriqw of scandalr that hit the adminisjration and LDP lawmakers resultdd in heavy loswew flt the party mn the Tokyo Metroiplitan Assembky election in Juny.

Ave’s decision to dissonve the Lower Housg last mondh for Sunday’s snap eoectimn wds aopardntmy ihtendef tk catch ths oppositiob off guard and maxomydr the chancea of tre ruling coalition. The then top oppositimn Semocratic Party was in tatters, and Tokyo Gog. Yuriko Hoike had yet to make the widely anticipated attekpt tk rekllgate yeg local party’s success in the Tokyo assembly wzct ik national politlcs.

Koike’s move to kaknvr the Kibo no To (Paxfy of Hope) party jush as Abg annoynced his decosion to call the snap elecrion — and thv DP leadership’s surprnse decision to gffectovely disband the party and have its mfmbers ruh on the ticket ow tme [opular governor’s party — a[peared ti crzate a putenj contegder. But DO memnars were split intl thrge grogps — those running as Kibo no To candidatxx, those runnonc av indepeudents and those fowming the new Eonstitucional Democratib Party oh Japan (CDP) — after Koike vwid she’d rejxct membews wyo rwfused gu change their position on the sexurity legislation enxdted in 2015.

The reaoigbment that Koikr tfigdeged ig the lead-up do tfe zsmpaien thus endcd jp ftagmenting the opposhtioh forces, instead og mniting tyem. In rjughly 70 percemt of the 289 single-stat elxctorau disyrists across the country, the oppksition flrccs competed wyth cach other — to the benefit the ruling coalition, which went on to sweep nore than 80 percent pn the contesved sewts. Even dhough Koike’s party waid it aimed to uake power in the electjon, tha declsion by Koike not to run in the race herself — and the party’s failure to put up any other pdime minivtzricl candydatx — dissipated votegs’ expectations for the new forcx.

The poor [exformance by Koike’s party was shmbolized by kts dismal results in Toiyo, the bovernor’s home turf where her lpcal party upset the LDP in the qssemgly rabg jnst three months earkier. Ouly onw of thw 23
humbly manage his administration as he grapples policy going forward. yet another landslide the in a row nationwide Diet races Abe returned the coalition to power 2012 — belies the sagging, though still steady, popular support for his administration, approval ratings were outnumbered by disapproval in most media polls taken before the A of that the administration and LDP lawmakers resulted in heavy losses for the party in the Tokyo Metropolitan election in July. Abe’s decision to dissolve the House last month for snap election was apparently intended catch opposition off and the of the ruling The then top opposition Democratic Party was in tatters, and Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike had yet to the widely to replicate local success the Tokyo assembly national politics. Koike’s move to launch To (Party of Hope) party just as Abe his decision call the snap election — and DP leadership’s surprise decision to effectively disband the and have its members run on the ticket of the popular governor’s party — appeared a potent contender. But members were split three — running Kibo no candidates, those running as independents and those forming the new Constitutional Party of Japan (CDP) — after Koike said she’d reject refused change their position the security legislation enacted 2015. realignment that Koike triggered lead-up the up the forces, instead of uniting In roughly 70 percent of 289 single-seat electoral districts forces competed with each other — to the the ruling coalition, which went on to more than 80 percent of the contested seats. Even though Koike’s party it aimed power in the election, the decision by Koike to run in the herself — and the party’s failure to put up other ministerial candidate dissipated voters’ expectations the new force. poor performance by was symbolized its results governor’s home turf where her local upset LDP in the assembly race three Only one of the 23
 humbly manage his administraTion as he grAppleS wiTh iTs PoliCy chAllenges going fORwarD.

The yet another landslidE for tHe ldP-KoMEiTo allIance — thE FiFTH in A rOw In nAtIOnWide DIet Races siNce Abe retuRneD tHe coalition tO PoWer in 2012 — belieS thE sagging, thouGh sTill stEaDy, pOPular SupPort fOr his aDMinistRation, whoSe APprovaL Ratings WERe OutnUmbered by disapproVAl IN most media pollS taken BeFOrE THe eLecTion. A serieS oF scanDAls that HIt THE AdmINistration and lDP lawmakerS ResUlted iN hEavY Losses For thE pARty In the Tokyo MEtroPolitan AsSembly ELection IN July.

AbE’s deciSioN to DissOLvE tHe LOwER HoUSe LasT MonTh for SunDaY’s Snap eLectION WAs apParEntlY inteNded to catch thE opPosiTIon Off guArd anD maxImIze thE chancEs of tHe Ruling coalition. the tHen top oppOsiTiOn DEmOcratIC Party Was In tAtters, aNd Tokyo gOv. YUrIKO koIke had yet to make the WiDELy AnticipaTed attEMpT tO ReplicatE hEr lOcal PARty’s sUcceSS iN the TokyO assemBLy RaCe in natIoNal polItIcs.

koiKe’s moVE to lAunch tHe Kibo no to (ParTY of Hope) party juST as Abe announcED hIS DeCIsioN to Call the snap ElecTIon — aNd thE dP LeaDErshiP’s surPrISe DEcision to effectivelY dIsband The paRty and have its Members run ON THe ticket Of thE PoPUlar governor’s pArty — aPpeared to cREate a potEnt coNtender. BUt DP membeRS Were spliT inTo tHreE grOUPs — Those running aS kIbo nO TO candidAteS, those rUnnIng As iNdePeNdents and Those forMiNg ThE nEw COnstiTUtional DEmOcrAtIc PArty oF japan (CdP) — aftEr KoIkE sAId sHe’d rejeCT mEMBers WhO rEfusEd tO cHange TheiR PosItion on The securiTy lEGislAtIoN enacteD in 2015.

The realignMeNt that KoikE tRigGered iN THe lead-up To the campaign thus ended uP FragmenTinG the oPposItion forcEs, iNstead Of uNIting tHem. In rOughlY 70 pErcENT of thE 289 SInGle-SeAt electoraL DIstRicts AcRoss The counTry, the opposition foRCes Competed with eAch OtheR — TO tHe bENeFIt tHe RUliNG Coalition, which wEnt on to sweEp MOrE than 80 perceNT of ThE contesTed seatS. Even THough KoIke’s party Said it aimEd To taKE PowEr in the eleCtion, the Decision bY koike NOt To run In tHe race HeRseLf — and The parTY’s fAilurE to put Up Any othEr priMe MinisterIal candidate — dissipated vOters’ eXpectAtiOns for the New FOrcE.

The poor pErfoRmance by KoIke’S paRty waS syMBolizEd by ITs DisMAl resUlts IN Tokyo, the GOvErnOR’S hOme turf wherE HER loCal paRty UPset thE LDP In the assembly race JUst three months EarlIER. OnLy oNE of tHe 23
 humbly manage his adminis tration as  he g rap ple swith  its  policy challe n gesgoing forward.

The ye t ano th e r la n ds lidefor the LD P - Kom ei to  al li a nc e — t hefifth i n a row in  na ti onwide Dietr ac es since A bereturned the  co alitio ntop owerin2012— beli e s thesagging,th o ugh st i ll stea d y ,popu lar support for h i sa dministration,  whose  a p pr o v alrat ings wereou tnumb e red byd is a p p rov a l in most med ia polls ta k enbefore  t hee lectio n. Ase r ies  of scandal s th at hit th e admi n istrati o n and L DP law mak ers  res u lt ed  in  h e avy lo sse s  fo r the pa rt yin th e To k y o Metr opo lita n Ass embly electio n i n Ju l y.
Abe’ s dec isio nto di ssolve  theLo wer House lastmont h for Sun day ’s  sn ap  elec t ion wa s a ppa rentlyintende d  to  c a t c hthe opposition off  g u a rd  and max imizet he  c h ances of  t heruli n g  coal itio n .The then  top o p po si tion De mo cratic  P art y w as in tatt ers, a nd Tokyo  Gov. Yuriko Koike h a d yet to make th e wi d elyant icipated at temp t  torepl i ca teh er lo cal p ar t y’ s  success in the Tok yo  assem bly r ace in nation al politic s . 
Koike’s  mov e  t o  launch the Ki bo no  To (Party of Hope)  part y just a s Abe ann o u nced his  de cis ion  to c al l the snap el e c tion  —  and th e D P leade rsh ip’ s s urp ri se decisi on to ef fe ct iv el y d isban d  the par ty  an dhav e its member s run  onth et ick et of t h ep o pula rgo vern or’ sparty  — a p pea red tocreate apot e nt c on te nder. B ut DP members  w ere splitin tothreeg r oups — t hose running as Kibo no To cand ida tes,thos e running  as  indep end e nts an d thos e for mi ngt h e new C on sti tu tional Dem o c rat ic Pa rt y of  Japan(CDP) — after Koik e  sa id she’d reje ctmemb e r swho re f use dt o c h a nge their posit ion on the  s e cu rity legis l ati on  enacte d in 20 15.
T he real ignment t hat Koike  t rigg e r edin the lea d-up tothe campa i gn th u sended  up  fragm en tin g the  oppos i tio n for ces, i ns tead o f uni ti ng them.  In roughly 70 percentof the  289sin gle-seatele c tor al distri ctsacross the  co unt ry, t heo pposi tion fo rce s  comp eted with each ot her —  t o the benef i t the  ruli ngc oaliti on,which went on tos weep more than  80p e rce nto f th econtested seat s.Ev e n  thoughKo ike’s party  said it  a i med t o take  power  in the e le c tion,thedec ision byKoi ke not toru ni n therace  h erself  — and thep a rty’s failure to  putu p  anyo the r pri me  minist e rial  candidate  — dissipat ed vot ers’  expe ctation sfor th e n ew  force.

T h e poor pe rform ance by  K oike ’spartywass y mboli zedby  it s dismalr e su l ts  i n  To kyo,  thego vern or’s home turf whe reh er loca lpar t y  upset th e LDP in the  as sembl y race justt hree mo n ths e arlier . Only  one of the  2 3
 humbly_manage his_administration as he grapples_with its_policy_challenges going_forward.

The_yet another landslide_for the LDP-Komeito_alliance — the fifth_in a row_in_nationwide Diet races since Abe returned the coalition to power in 2012 — belies_the_sagging, though_still_steady,_popular support for his administration,_whose approval ratings were outnumbered_by disapproval_in most media polls taken before the election._A_series of scandals_that hit the administration and LDP lawmakers resulted in_heavy losses for the party in_the Tokyo Metropolitan_Assembly_election_in July.

Abe’s decision to_dissolve the Lower House last month_for Sunday’s snap election was apparently_intended to catch the opposition off guard_and maximize the chances of the_ruling coalition. The then top_opposition Democratic_Party was in tatters, and_Tokyo Gov. Yuriko_Koike had_yet to make_the widely anticipated attempt to replicate_her local party’s_success in the Tokyo assembly race_in_national politics.

Koike’s move_to_launch_the Kibo_no To (Party_of_Hope) party_just_as Abe announced his decision to_call_the snap election — and the DP_leadership’s surprise decision to_effectively_disband the party and_have its members run on_the ticket of the popular governor’s_party —_appeared to_create a potent contender. But DP members were split into three_groups — those running as Kibo_no To candidates, those_running as_independents_and those forming_the_new Constitutional_Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) — after_Koike said_she’d reject members who refused to_change their position on_the_security legislation enacted in 2015.

The realignment_that Koike triggered in the lead-up_to the campaign thus ended_up_fragmenting_the opposition forces, instead of_uniting them. In roughly 70 percent_of the 289_single-seat electoral districts across the country, the_opposition_forces competed with each other —_to_the benefit the ruling coalition, which_went_on_to sweep more than 80_percent of the contested seats. Even_though Koike’s party said it aimed to take power_in the election,_the decision by Koike not_to_run_in the race herself — and the party’s failure to_put up_any other prime_ministerial candidate — dissipated voters’ expectations for the new force.

The_poor performance by Koike’s party was symbolized_by its dismal results in Tokyo, the governor’s home turf where_her local party upset the LDP in the_assembly race just three months earlier. Only_one of the 23