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slash Japan to clean your offer. This week, I'm going to recommend the seven and a half

deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. I'm actually not usually a big mystery person, but I've really found myself enjoying this one

in large part thanks to the highly original premise, which I won't spoil for you because

you really should check it out for yourself.

So even if you're not usually a big mystery person, go to audible trial.com slash Japan

and check it out.

Hello and welcome to the history of Japan podcast, episode 409, The Contenders, Part 4.

So, what went wrong?

The DPJ came into power with one of the most sweeping mandates for change I have ever seen when it comes to electoral politics,

capturing massive margins in the 2009 general election.

And having swept to power on promises to reform Japan and remake it from the ground up,

the party proceeded to remain in power for three years and three months,

before receiving one of the most massive electoral defeats

I've ever seen as well, dropping from 309 seats in the 2009 election to just 54 in the 2012 one.

Arguably, after 2012, the DPJ wasn't even Japan's second party anymore, as there were now

...