🔗 Share this article Japan on course to elect woman prime minister in historic first Over the last two decades, Japan has had more than 10 prime ministers. In fact, a specialist likens assuming the country's top job to drinking from a "poisoned chalice". But why does the country keep changing leaders? This is partly because of it being a "single-party system", explains Prof James Brown of Temple University Japan. The LDP's grip on the political landscape means the main political competition originates within the party, rather than from external parties. "Therefore inside the LDP there are intense conflicts within different factions - they all want their own faction to secure the top job." "Thus although you could be chosen as leader, as soon as you're in office, you have many individuals scheming to try to remove you again." Key Factors Behind Rapid Turnover Single-party rule limits outside challenges Party infighting drive power struggles The prime minister's position is frequently called a "poisoned chalice" Political stability stays difficult to achieve despite financial power