While last year's Liberal Democratic Party presidential race ended in a landside victory for Prime Minister Taro Aso, there were signs that the old guard's grip on power is slipping.
For one thing, among those in the running was the first-ever female candidate, ex-Defense Minister Yuriko Koike.
Although Koike didn't grab the top spot, she said the experience made her realize anew the deep responsibility that comes with leading the nation.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.