(There is no link to this report.)

The revolving door of Japan's prime ministers missed a turn yesterday as the current prime minister successfully fended off a leadership challenge, but at the final count it was fairly clear that the party is divided. The real surprise came from the amount of support Kan had from the rank and file members of the party. "Kan's approval rating has shot up, but he hasn't done anything other than not be Ozawa, said Jeff Kingston of Temple University's Japan Campus. "The question is: Can he translate his popularity into legislative achievements?"