Nationalism and populism are attractive during hard times because they give some people a scapegoat to blame the bad times on, such as European far-right parties blaming immigrants for the eurozone debt woes. It also gives some the chance to vent their anger. Thanks to his high-profile Diaoyutais purchase plan, Ishihara is currently enjoying large popular support - something that is expected to help his son Nobuteru Ishihara's chances in the election for Liberal Democratic Party head later this month. If he wins, Nobuteru has a real chance of becoming Japan's next prime minister.
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