Letter from Nikkei Asia's editor: Politics and the power of numbers

Good afternoon. One of Japan's most powerful prime ministers, Kakuei Tanaka, famously said: "Politics is about numbers. Numbers are power, and power is money."

When Indonesia's new president, Prabowo Subianto, was elected earlier this year, his party didn't win a majority in the parliamentary vote held on the same day as the presidential election. However, his grip on parliament grew stronger after all but one of the parties with legislative seats joined his coalition. Prabowo's push to maintain unity within his coalition resulted in the largest cabinet in decades.

As Japan's lower house heads for an election on Sunday, Nikkei and other Japanese media organizations are predicting that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party/ Komeito coalition faces a tight race in its push to secure a majority of the chamber's 465 seats. Attaining a majority for the ruling bloc has traditionally been the election goal set by past LDP leaders, including popular figures such as Junichiro Koizumi and Shinzo Abe, despite it actually being considered a low bar for the parties.

This time, however, that goal seems to have been set in earnest, as winning a majority no longer looks like it will be an easy feat. New Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who has called Tanaka his political mentor, will certainly try everything he can to secure a majority after the vote if his side falls short, such as by reaching out to independent lawmakers. But his position as prime minister will remain as fragile as ever, unlike with Indonesia's Prabowo.

My suggested reads

1. China's "returnless refund" policies allow online shoppers to request refunds on purchases without returning the item. But as abuse of the policies becomes more common, some major players, like Taobao, are cracking down on shoppers looking to score "freebies."

2. Asia, home to some of the world's largest net oil importers, is bracing for a possible surge in prices to $100 per barrel as escalating tensions in the Middle East could prompt speculators to buy back their short positions. The spike may only be temporary, however, as markets expect demand from oil-thirsty China to slow down over the longer term despite Beijing's efforts to lift the economy.

3. Philippine tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan is one of his country's richest entrepreneurs. MVP, as he is known, first made money in Hong Kong but over the last 26 years has put his money where his mouth is by repeatedly investing in his home nation's infrastructure. Despite being 78, Pangilinan shows no sign of retiring.

4. Late in 2022, Japan launched a massive defense buildup against a backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and rising tensions in Asia. Two years on, the project is stalling amid the weak yen, funding concerns, supply chain constraints and a labor crunch.

5. Natto, a traditional -- and pungent -- Japanese dish made from fermented soybeans, is gaining traction internationally, with exports hitting a record 1.9 billion yen ($12.8 million) in 2023. As social media spreads the word -- complete with quirky #nattochallenge videos -- retailers are experimenting with innovative takes on the delicacy, like baked natto doughnuts, aiming to transform this acquired taste into a global culinary trend.

Through the lens

This week's top photo pick: Shohei Ohtani joins his teammates in a Champagne-spraying celebration after his Los Angeles Dodgers won their first National League title in four years. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images/Retuers)

Check out more of our photo coverage here.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Shin Nakayama

Follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @ShinNakayama_NA