The Diet went into recess last week, but for Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition, the real action is just beginning. For them, there is much politicking to do and little time to do it.
Naturally, most Japan observers will be focused on the Olympic Games, but the summer will be full of political competition both ahead of and during three notable elections set for the coming months.
First, there is the Tokyo municipal election scheduled for early July. Then the LDP's presidential election is presumably set to take place in mid-September. Finally, the House of Representatives election must happen sometime before the end of October. These elections will put the political leadership and literally hundreds of ruling coalition jobs on the line.