In many ways, Japan’s current problems are caused by US policy.

After WW2, instead of dismantling the powerful families in Japan (who are responsible for the war), they let them continue to wield power because of the Cold War. Many of the top politicians can be traced back to the big families during the feudal period.

At one point, the Japanese were going to vote the socialists into power but then the US started to use its influence again, building the electoral machine that is the LDP (as mentioned in the OP’s article). And then they continued to be kept in power.

Japan used to have violent protests during the Cold War. After a lot of arrests, Japanese basically don’t protest anymore.

There is no effective opposition to LDP in Japan right now. Young people don’t vote and don’t care because they know they can’t change the status quo. It is disheartening.