Power might be about to change hands in Japan. That would mean a return of the country's conservatives led by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a man known as a hardline nationalist. It could see Japan take a more assertive stance with China and a restart of the nuclear reactors in Fukushima. “Abe is a liability. He left office in shameful circumstances back in 2007. He was basically pushed out of power by the party elders because he had discredited the party and now he's back,” said Jeff Kingston, a faculty member at Temple University, Japan Campus.