As the term of Junichiro Koizumi, the nation's third-longest-serving postwar prime minister, comes to a close, political pundits are speculating on his future.
Despite Koizumi's repeated assertions that he wants to lead a quiet life after stepping down, some observers think he may be asked to run for the top post again, given his enduring popularity.
If his ruling Liberal Democratic Party suffers a crushing defeat in a future general election, the party may beg him to step in and save it, they said.