April 11, 2008; Volume 04, Number 13

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Welcome again this week to another Japan Considered Podcast. Thanks for dropping in again to you long-time listeners, and a hearty South Carolina welcome to those of you who have just found the program. Even though this week we come to you from North Carolina!

Last week I said we'd consider the proliferation of LDP cross-factional associations that have been developing recently. In anticipation of significant changes in the Party. If nothing intervened. Well, something did intervene. Wednesday's parliamentary "question time" debate between Prime Minister Fukuda and DPJ leader, Ichiro Ozawa.

The debate was far livelier than normal for these events. And full of interesting indications of change within Japan's parliamentary politics. So, I've devoted all of our time together this week to considering its significance.