It has already staged votes to approve plans for new assemblies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and further polls on reform of the electoral system and on membership of the single European currency are likely.

ECONOMIST: Neill and the cash machine | The

Should Messrs Kawamura and Omura manage to stuff the new assemblies with their supporters in the spring elections, they could help unleash forces of decentralisation in Japan.

ECONOMIST: Some see a tea party brewing in Japan��s hinterland

The new parliaments and assemblies set up in Scotland, Wales and (if it is ever able to start work) Northern Ireland have not had time to make their presence felt.

ECONOMIST: Britain