Recent elections in Japan have been dramatic and the 2021 general election was no exception.
Worldwide turmoil caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as well as domestic
uncertainty following the resignation of long-serving Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Prime
Minister Abe Shinz left many voters and political observers wondering whether his successors
were up to the task of leading the country through the crisis. In the end the LDP and
coalition partner K meit eked out an electoral victory-but one that masks important changes in
the party system and nuanced changes in voter behavior and preferences. This fourth volume in
the Japan Decides series features a comprehensive collection of analyses from leading experts
covering the legacy of Abe's tenure in office the state of the LDP and other parties the
impact of COVID-19 and the postponed 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics and many other important
topics in contemporary party politics and domestic and foreign policy.
