Foreign reaction to the election results and the formation of Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's new government can be summed up in one word: "disappointing." Once again it seemed that Japan was missing an opportunity to move forward on the reforms so urgently needed in government and the economy.

Mori's so-called election victory was, of course, nothing of the sort. The Liberal Democratic Party managed to lose a few less seats than might have been expected and with their "allies" in New Komeito and the New Conservative Party they have been able to retain a small majority in both Houses. The opposition Democratic Party of Japan muffed it by its lack of unity and inability to articulate persuasive policies.

Of course they were not helped by bad weather that no doubt discouraged some voters from going to the polls. I hope that few voters heeded Mori's outrageous suggestion that they should stay in bed and not upset the ruling party's hold on power. Some, however, it would seem, were so disillusioned with Japanese party politics that they decided to abstain. This bodes ill for the development of parliamentary democracy in Japan.