Yukio Hatoyama, the prime minister, and his most influential backer, Ichiro Ozawa, have since been caught up in election-funding scandals that have shredded the government's credibility.
And if no new major backer comes forward he will be happy if the supporters can come up with the funds to have a greater role in the running of the club.
It is this accountability and online community devotion that led Glenn and Whitehead to seek start-up capital in a way that engaged their devotees and friends, rather than finding a backer or investor.