Ichiro Ozawa's leadership within the Democratic Party of Japan has become stronger than ever following the party's resounding victory in the July 29 Upper House election.
Even those who had thought his leadership would come to an end with that election are now increasingly relying on him to lead the party to another victory in the general election of the Lower House expected in the not-too-distant future.
When former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe abruptly announced his resignation, Ozawa was all smiles, showing every confidence to reporters that it was his party's Upper House election victory that forced Abe to step down.