OSAKA — With its constant factional infighting and Cabinet shuffles, Japanese national politics is a disheartening affair for the concerned voter. Last year's historic elections, however, demonstrated that voters can oust unpopular governments, and that party competition and accountability is emerging at last.

Unfortunately, it is hard to say the same for politics beyond Tokyo. In Japan's prefectures and municipalities, the worst aspects of old-style politics seem set to continue.

Local assemblies in particular have long been criticized as divorced from the public, havens of back-room deals and dominated by local special interests. For the average taxpayer, the existence and purpose of roughly 37,000 local assembly members, with an average annual salary near ¥7 million, is a costly mystery. When they do appear in the news, it is often for obstructing popular reformist mayors and governors or for answering charges of corruption. Public frustration has naturally run high.