Japan set to choose woman prime minister in landmark first
In the past twenty years, the country has had more than 10 prime ministers.
In fact, a specialist compares assuming the nation's top job to taking a "cursed cup".
But why does Japan frequently replace prime ministers? This is partly because of it being a "one-party democracy", explains Professor James Brown of Temple University Japan.
The Liberal Democratic Party's control on the political landscape means the main political competition comes from inside the party, rather than from external parties.
"Therefore inside the LDP there are intense conflicts within different factions - they all desire their own clique to get the top job."
"Thus although you might be chosen as prime minister, the moment you're in office, you have many individuals scheming to try to remove you again."
Key Factors Behind Frequent Changes
- One-party dominance restricts external competition
- Internal factional rivalries fuel power struggles
- The leadership role is frequently called a "poisoned chalice"
- Government continuity remains difficult to achieve despite financial power
