The revenge of Japan’s old brigade
THREE years is a long time in Japanese politics. The country's largest opposition block, the New Frontier Party (NFP), which was formed only in 1994, is close to fracturing into irrelevance. Its autocratic founder, the belligerent, bullying and at times brilliant Ichiro Ozawa, now leads a party riven with feuds. As if that were not bad enough, powerful enemies within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)—who have never forgiven Mr Ozawa for bolting with some 60 followers—are exacting revenge.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “The revenge of Japan’s old brigade”
From the December 20th 1997 edition
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