Chapter 361 – A Barbershop Conversation with My Close Aides

On July 3, the Inukai Cabinet announced the dissolution of the Diet and called for a general election. Election Day was set for Sunday, August 5.

Unlike in my previous life, however, it would be a general election. There would be no collective resignation followed by the genro Saionji Kinmochi and a conference of senior statesmen to choose the next prime minister from among former premiers. Japan’s party politics was still very much intact.

That said, the warning light had already begun to turn yellow.

“I suppose Ugaki Kazushige is pushing seventy by now. He must want to become Prime Minister.”

“So, Milady wants to be a kingmaker this time?”

“A kingmaker?”

“In this case, not a literal king. It means a person or faction that wields significant behind-the-scenes influence over who becomes Prime Minister and who gets forced out.”