The first year of the 21st century has seen a great change in Japan's political landscape with the appearance of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Mr. Koizumi, who in April won the post of prime minister with an ardent call for "reforms without sacred cows," has been maintaining an unprecedentedly high level of public support for his Cabinet. This comes in stark contrast with his predecessor, former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, for whom public support simply evaporated.
The ripples of this strengthening of the administration's base and of the prime minister's position spread in a subtle manner to relations within the ruling coalition. They also brought about a change in the confrontational setup between the ruling and opposition parties. The call for reforms has rattled not only the world of politics but also the whole of society.
Can the Koizumi reforms really give a face-lift to a Japan that has been floundering in confusion and open a future full of hope? Although the people have expressed their support for reforms, they do not appear to have much faith.