Sunday's Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election results mirrored a recent trend in national polls, with the Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan competing in what increasingly appears to be a two-party rivalry.
Although Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's approval ratings have slid, the LDP managed to hold its ground against the opposition with the help of its coalition partner, New Komeito, which is backed by solid votes from Soka Gakkai, Japan's biggest lay Buddhist organization.
The LDP saw its seats decline from 51 to 48 in the 127-seat assembly, and managed to retain a combined majority with New Komeito, which won 23 seats while supporting 17 LDP candidates.