Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi rocked the Japanese political landscape in November by predicting that Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda would dissolve the Lower House and call a general election "in the near future."

The remark, made at an international investment seminar in Singapore, was somewhat bold, coming from Koizumi, who has refrained from making public comments since he stepped down in September last year.

Asked later when Fukuda specifically might take such action, Koizumi said "within two to three months, possibly before the end of this year."