Japan on course to choose woman prime minister in landmark first
Over the last two decades, Japan has had more than 10 prime ministers.
Actually, one expert compares assuming the nation's top job to drinking from a "poisoned chalice".
But why does the country frequently replace prime ministers? This is partly because of it being a "one-party democracy", explains Professor James Brown of Temple University Japan.
The Liberal Democratic Party's control on the political landscape means the primary rivalry comes from inside the party, rather than from opposition groups.
"Therefore inside the LDP there are vicious struggles within different factions - they all want their own clique to get the top job."
"So even though you might be selected as prime minister, the moment you're in office, you have dozens of people scheming to try to remove you again."
Key Factors Behind Frequent Changes
- One-party dominance limits external competition
- Internal factional rivalries fuel leadership contests
- The prime minister's position is often described as a "cursed position"
- Government continuity stays difficult to achieve despite economic strength
