On the 16th of December 2012 Japan held a House of Representatives election, which catapulted the LDP-Komei coalition back into government and Abe Shinzo back into the prime ministership. The election was notable not only because it exposed the degree of voter dissatisfaction with the incumbent DPJ-led government, but also because of the starring role played by national security in the campaign. Every major party contesting the election took a stance on national security and made efforts to publicise it through the media and their election manifestos.

Read the entire article in the Australia and Japan in the Region newsletter.