The Democratic Party of Japan, which suffered a devastating defeat in the Dec. 16 Lower House election, is in the throes of a crisis characterized by apathy and loss of direction. Its Lower House seats dwindled from the pre-election 230 to 57. Eight members of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda lost seats.
The DPJ still managed to be the No. 1 opposition party. As such, it should remember that it has an important duty to check the excesses of the next government of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito.
The DPJ is still the No. 1 party in the Upper House with 87 seats. The Upper House election to be held in the summer of 2013 will be a critical election not only for the DPJ but also for the whole nation. The DPJ leaders should realize that not much time is left for consolidating the foundation for its revival.