Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa appeared before the media Tuesday for the first time since his party's sweeping victory in the Upper House election, slamming Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for refusing to relinquish power despite the ruling bloc's crushing defeat.
Abe's determination to stay on as prime minister "is absurd and illogical," Ozawa said. "Japan has a parliamentary system of government and it is unthinkable that (Abe's) Cabinet would remain just because the ruling coalition has a majority in the Lower House — after it lost a majority in a national (Upper House) election."
Asked to confirm rumors he did not make a public appearance Sunday to declare his party's victory because he was ill, and to describe his health, Ozawa merely said, "my physical condition is fatigue."