While glossy posters with his photograph proudly adorn the LDP kiosk, muckle of items ranging from mobile phone straps to coffee mugs bear his image as if an impassioned fan following of some Hollywood demigod has been at its best. The popularity of the ‘maverick’ politician, who is renowned for a conscious silver mane, touched such heights during his tenure that can easily confirm him a social phenomenon in Japan. This is the charismatic outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for you.

When dapper-rebel Koizumi swept into power as Japan’s 56th Prime Minister and the president of the Liberal Democratic Party in April 2001, he was averred the most magnetic and outspoken Prime Ministers Japan would have ever seen. For the uninitiated, Koizumi is not only one of the longest serving prime ministers in the country but also the one who changed the way politics had been played in Japan.

An economics graduate from Keiro University and a London School of Economics pass-out, Koizumi has ruled with remarkably consistent vision that has buoyed his popularity at home and boosted Japan’s previously yawn-inducing profile abroad. A third-generation Diet (Parliament) member, Koizumi succeeded Yoshiro Mori as the Prime Minister. His father, Junya Koizumi was minister of defence and his grandfather, Matajiro Koizumi was Minister of Posts and Telecom and an early advocate of postal privatisation. Koizumi served in four Cabinets between 1979 and 1998 in the capacity of Finance minister, Post and Telecommunication minister, and Health, Labour and Welfare minister.

The outside world sees Koizumi as the man who revitalised Japan’s relationship with the United States after 9/11 by providing logistical support for the invasion of Afghanistan, and then dispatching troops to Iraq for humanitarian assistance. However, his approval ratings inside the country dropped on this count. His popularity rebounded after he pressed the need for the privatisation of the postal system.

Koizumi’s standing among post-war prime ministers remains undisputed in Japan. He dominated his LDP party and pursued an autocratic style of government. By pushing reorganisation of the structure of the LDP and devising ways to revitalise the almost defunct economy, reform-oriented Koizumi garnered huge public support. The insiders still hail him for promoting more women and younger politicians to the Cabinet.

However, Koizumi’s visits to the Yasukuni war shrine marred the country’s relationship with China and South Korea. The Yasukuni shrine honours 2.5 million war victims of World War II, including 14 people convicted as criminals. So much so that Japan’s quest for the UN Security Council membership seems beyond imagination as China sits on the plum power post in the UN.

Now, it’s time for him to pass the baton to his political confidant, who is likely to adopt an equally nationalistic tone.