@SheilaSmithCFR As you might know already, Mr. Shintatro Ishihara, who recently resigned from the post of Tokyo Governor and organized The Sunrise Party has been united yesterday with Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, a leader of The Japan Restoration Party. This third option, as many expect, will play a major role in determining the results of the Dec. 16 election of the Lower House, thereby jeopardizing the efforts of the Liberal Democratic Party headed by ex-PM Abe trying to regain Japan’s leadership and also diminishing the possibility of what PM Noda has determined to realize when he dissolved the Lower House on November 16.