Just as expected, no change whatsoever. That is the prevailing impression of the by-elections held on Sunday in five Lower House constituencies and two Upper House districts. The by-elections ended in an overwhelming victory for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, whose candidates scored five wins. But it is highly questionable whether the results represent a real reflection of the popular will.

The parties created barely a ripple, never mind a storm, with their election campaigns, and the independents caused no stir at all. The by-elections' failure to ignite public interest is best symbolized by the decline in voter turnout. In all seven constituencies, the number of voters casting their ballots registered a double-digit drop from the previous election. In Chiba, the voting percentage was only 24 percent.

Clearly, the political parties should be blamed for this miserable situation. They appear to have lost touch with voters, fielding candidates who were unable to arouse public interest in their campaigns. In all of the constituencies, the campaigns followed the formal pattern of ruling parties pitting themselves against opposition parties, but there was no lively and coherent debate about policies.