Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s gambit to call for snap elections a year ahead of schedule paid off handsomely with his ruling coalition maintaining its two thirds “super majority” in the more powerful Lower House of Parliament. This is a remarkable turnaround for both the Prime Minister and his party after various scandals over the summer saw their approval ratings plunge to 30% - dangerously low levels that has seen previous administrations ousted. A cabinet reshuf e in August led to an uptick in ratings. Ultimately though, it was disarray in the opposition ranks that split opposition votes, which was the main factor behind the landslide win.