Changing central-local relations and party politics

本研究项目的主题是分析1990年代日本政治的两大变化，即选举改革和分权改革，对国家和地方政治政党制度的影响。整个项目表明，由于地方政府的总统制和地方议会的选举制度，地方政党的重组正在进行中。这表明，尽管在国家政治上走向两党制，但日本的地方政治却变得更加多元化。

The main theme of this research project is to analyze the effects of two major changes in 1990s Japanese politics, that is, Electoral reform and decentralization reform, on party systems in both national and local politics. Throughout this project, it is demonstrated that local party realignments due to presidentialism in local governments and electoral systems of local assemblies are in progress. It shows that, in spite of moving toward a two-party system in national politics, Japanese local politics become more multifaceted.