Cleared of misappropriation allegations, Makiko Tanaka, one of the nation's most popular politicians, is on the verge of a comeback.
And the likely move, leaked Thursday by her aides, appears to be striking quiet fear into the Liberal Democratic Party.
The daughter of the late Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, Makiko, as she is popularly known, has gained a following with her sharp tongue and combative style.