Cover --Title --Copyright --Dedication --Contents --List of figures --List of tables --Acknowledgements --List of abbreviations --Introduction --The institutional change that did not materialize --Outline of the book --Note on conventions --Notes --1 The decision-making process under the LDP administration and the DPJ's plans for reform --Policymaking mechanisms of the old LDP --Institutional changes since the 1990s --The DPJ and its plans for reform --Conclusions --Notes --2 The Hatoyama government: attempt at creating a new order --Reform of governmental institutions. Reforms of the DPJ and ruling coalition institutionsCase study 1: Compilation of the budget for FY 2010 --Case study 2: The Futenma relocation issue --Conclusions --Notes --3 The Kan government: limits of reforms --Changes in the governmental institutions --Management of party and parliamentary affairs --Case study 3: The East China Sea crisis --Case study 4: The Great East Japan Earthquake --Conclusions --Notes --4 The Noda government: a return to old practices? --Power relations in the government --Policy coordination with the ruling party and the opposition --Case study 5: The consumption tax increase. Case study 6: The nationalization of the Senkaku/Diaoyutai IslandsConclusions --Notes --Summary and conclusions --The excessive remoteness of the institutional model --The excessive volatility of the policy vision --The excessive aversion to pre-existing institutions --The excessive negative feedback on the initial setbacks --Aftermath of the DPJ government --References --Index.