■Opposition parties need to work overtime to reinvent themselves：
Opposition parties appear to be in a stupor after suffering a devastating defeat in the July 21 Upper House election and allowing the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to become an overwhelmingly dominant political force again.
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan lost more than half of its contested seats in the poll. But DPJ President Banri Kaieda has expressed his intention to remain at the helm, saying the party reform he initiated is only half done. Cynics would say the party simply lacks the energy to replace its leader.
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