He's young, photogenic, energetic, brash, bold, intelligent — and, almost oxymoronically, a politician, one of very few in Japan within living memory who come close to fitting such a description. He has many ideas, all of which boil down to this: "Nihon no kuni wo ichi kara risetto shite, mōichido tsukurinaosu" (「日本の国を一からリセットして、もう一度作り直す」"Reset Japan's central government from scratch, make it over"). That's how he put it at a kōenkai (後援会, political support group gathering) in January.

His name of course is Toru Hashimoto, former Osaka Prefecture governor, current Osaka City mayor, and future ... what? Prime minister? Catalyst of Japan's resurrection? He's only 42. Regarding the next national election he has said, "Watashi jishin ga kokusei ni deru koto wa arimasen" (「私自身が国政に出ることはありません」"I myself will not be involved in politics at the national level") — but the group he founded and leads, Osaka Ishin no Kai (大阪維新の会, One Osaka), is poised for very prominent involvement indeed.

That Japan is in sad if not tragic straits is generally acknowledged. If ever a country needed a government empowered by public support, this one does. If Japan's salvation depends on such support, though, the future is dark. A recent Asahi Shimbun yoron chōsa (世論調査, opinion poll) shows why. To the question "Ima, dono seitō wo shiji shite imasu ka?" (「今、どの政党を支持していますか」"Which party do you now support?"), the response was: Minshuto (民主党, the Democratic Party of Japan, which heads the governing coalition): 19 percent; Jiminto (自民党, opposition-leading Liberal Democratic Party): 12 percent. Eleven minor parties each garnered support ratings of 2 percent or less. Fifty-three percent of respondents said, "Shiji seitō nashi" (「支持政党なし」 "There is no party I support").