In the span of just the past week, Tokyo stock prices have plummeted, data showed that Japan's gross domestic product had shrunk and a number of Cabinet members and ruling lawmakers grappled with damaging scandals.
This growing storm has focused eyes on Nagatacho, the epicenter of Japanese politics, begging the question: How bad is the damage to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration, and will it affect this summer's planned Upper House election?
Media polls conducted separately by two major newspapers earlier this week have suggested the hit taken by the Abe government has been limited so far — despite the best efforts of critics and opposition lawmakers, who have played up the economic woes and embarrassing Cabinet scandals during recent Diet sessions.
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