This is the same terminal condition the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) experienced when the party gave up power in 2009.

Quote of the Day Jul. 04, 2012 - 05:27AM JST ( 0 )

Koji Nakakita, professor of politics at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo, referring to the decision by Ichiro Ozawa and his supporters to leave the DPJ. Analysts say Ozawa’s move is unlikely to prove fatal to Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda in the short-term, but the party as a whole is in trouble. (AFP)