FOCUS: Minor parties surge in Japan amid cracks in LDP's longstanding rule

With public frustration mounting over Japan's prolonged economic malaise, a rising tide of support for minor political parties with a populist message may deliver a serious blow to the Liberal Democratic Party's 70-year dominance in the July 20 House of Councillors election.The Sanseito party, in particular, is eating into the LDP's conservative base, making claims under its "Japanese First" banner about the need to protect national identity and alleging that foreign residents are posing a host of problems for the country that are not being addressed.Analysts say growing support for smaller…READ FULL ARTICLE