The sweeping victory by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party may have given the reformist leader a strong mandate for reform, but political experts are hoping the decisive gains will also give him the power needed to resolve sensitive issues on the diplomatic front.
Sunday's electoral uplift comes at a time when Japan finds itself facing several prickly issues, including its role in the United States' global military realignment, extension of the Self-Defense Forces' mission in Iraq and strained ties with neighbors in Asia.
If Koizumi fails to seize this opportunity, observers warn, these expectations could quickly turn into disappointment and damage Japan's international standing.
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