At the beginning of 2002, the political situation in Japan appears relatively stable. Compared with 2001, which witnessed a series of radical changes, the new year is likely to see Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi pushing his reform plans ahead on the back of his huge popularity.
Looking back to the past year, the popular mood changed abruptly in April when Koizumi took over from Yoshiro Mori with promises of "structural reform." Koizumi's debut marked the birth of a sort of revolutionary administration, not a conventional revolving-door leadership change. He vowed to shake up the hidebound structure of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and to overhaul outdated political and economic systems.
His passionate calls for change, combined with his strong character, boosted his popularity to record levels. Eight months after taking office, his public approval ratings are still 70 to 80 percent.