Empowered? Evaluating Japan's national energy strategy under the DPJ administration

► Public consensus exists regarding which energy policy goals are important in Japan. ► Minor perceptual differences are not of a catalytic nature. ► Public consensus does not deviate significantly from past LDP energy policy. ► Unlikely that the DPJ will pursue costly energy transition initiatives. ► Likely that the DPJ energy strategy will be substantively similar to LDP strategy. ► Any differences in strategy will focus on CO2 reduction magnitude not substance.