Ace pitcher Junichiro Koizumi does not throw curveballs. Two months into his tricky job on the nation's political mound of Nagata-cho — where even supposed teammates may be plotting against him — he continues throwing straight fastballs only.

That is how Nobuteru Ishihara, state minister in charge of administrative reforms under Koizumi, describes how the prime minister bypasses the old ways of his Liberal Democratic Party to pursue his reform initiatives.

Koizumi completes his first round with the legislature today as the 150-day regular Diet session closes, and media surveys show he still claims an extraordinarily high level of public support.