The recent and dramatic changes in the configurations and coalitions of Japan's political parties have prompted Ronald Hrebenar to reevaluate his previous book, The Japanese Party System. In the summer of 1993, Japanese politics changed fundamentally from the pattern which had been the norm since 1955. No longer does the Liberal Democratic Party (LPD) rule national-level politics without the need to resort to coalitions and lesser parties. Even more significant are the two non-LDP governments formed under the prime ministerships of Hosokawa and Hata. No longer is the opposition dominated by the “never to govern” Japan Socialist party. By December 1994 a new opposition party emerged from nine former opposition parties to move Japan toward a two-party system.In this book, Hrebenar explores the political attitudes, election laws, and the role of political money in Japan, historically as well as in context of the post-1993 changes. Discussion turns to the LDP and how its fragmentation led to the these changes. Coverage of the most recent Japanese election makes this an invaluable text for students of Japan and its political systems.

Ronald J. Hrebenar is professor of political science at the University of Utah and the author of several books, including The Japanese Party System: Second Edition (Westview Press 1992). Matthew J. Burbank is assistant professor of political science at the University of Utah. Robert C. Benedict is associate professor of political science at the University of Utah.