Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi*s striking victory in Sunday*s election has catapulted Japan*s political landscape to a time many had already begun to forget 〞 a time when her Liberal Democratic Party held largely unfettered control over the levers of power.

Following a short hiatus after the party was all but declared dead 〞 with many proclaiming the start of a new era 奈 the LDP rose from the ashes to win back the domineering position it had long held.

But Sunday*s triumph is less a master stroke of the LDP than a success of its indisputable architect: Takaichi herself.