It wasn*t so long ago that Shinzo Abe appeared on course to becoming Japan*s longest-serving prime minister ever.

But after his conservative Liberal Democratic Party*s crushing defeat in Sunday*s Tokyo assembly election, Abe*s iron grip on power has finally shown signs of slipping 〞 a setback critics say is the biggest crisis he has faced since his sweeping return to power in December 2012.

※This is a very stern rebuke from the public that we must do some serious soul-searching about,§ NHK showed a grim-faced Abe telling reporters at his Tokyo office Monday morning.