Yoichi Funabashi is Chairman of the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation and former Editor-in-Chief for the Asahi Shinbun.

Koichi Nakano is Professor of Political Science, Sophia University, Japan.

This book examines the September 2009-December 2012 administration of the Democratic Party of Japan from various perspectives including policies, party governance and legacy. It identifies the significance of the DPJ to Japan's party politics, explains reasons for its downfall and derives crucial lessons for the future of party democracy in Japan.

Foreword Preface to the English Edition Introduction: The DPJ's Evolution and Three Years in Power 1. The Manifesto: Why was the DPJ Unable to Keep its Campaign Promises? 2. Political Leadership: The Failure of the DPJ's "Five Measures" 3. The Economy and Public Finance: The Challenges and Setbacks of Reform, Hideaki Tanaka 4. Foreign Policy and Security under the DPJ: From Idealism to Pragmatism 5. The Child Allowance: A Failed Attempt to Put "Children First" 6. The DPJ's Mismanagement of Administration and Party: Was Ozawa Alone to Blame? 7. DPJ Election Strategy: The Dilemma of Landslide Victory, Phillip Y. Lipscy 8. Conclusion Afterword