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Acknowledgments vii I have had the privilege of working and studying at several universities while preparing this book. The Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies at Harvard University supported my research as a graduate student by purchasing a data set of Japanese elections. The National Science Foundation provided assistance for work in Japan and during graduate school. Two Fulbright grants supported me during my stay in Japan and made it possible for me to conduct research at the Faculty of Law of Tokyo University. The University of Kansas, Brigham Young University , and Daito Bunka University have also supported my work. Along the way many have helped me to refine my ideas. I am particularly indebted to Susan Pharr, Jim Alt, Brian Woodall, Steve Reed, Sasaki Takeshi, Takabatake Michitoshi, Igarashi Akio, Kan Naoto, Doi Takako, Kunihiro Masao, Gary Cox, Ron Francisco, Paul Johnson, Sven Wilson, and Jay Goodliffe. Patricia Crosby at the University of Hawai‘i Press has been kind and patient in explaining the publishing process to me. I reserve my greatest expressions of gratitude for the many Japanese politicians, academics, journalists, and union officials who have taken time to explain the obvious and instruct the floundering foreigner in their midst. ...

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