Economics
Noda Avoids Losing as Judo Fighter Leading Without Winning
This article is for subscribers only.
New Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda faced political oblivion 15 years ago. His comeback required the kind of perseverance he will need to last longer than the five men since 2006 who preceded him.
In 1996, Noda was defeated in his re-election bid for parliament, losing by 105 votes. For almost four years he was unemployed, occasionally without enough money to buy shoes for his sons, he recalled in a speech this week.