@DrEvanGowan Japan's parliament is expected to vote for a new PM on Oct 15, but LDP + Komeito are in the minority and Komeito may be reluctant to be pulled further right to vote for Takaichi; thus Komeito's leader, an opposition party leader or a compromise candidate (perhaps not a cat) might end up as PM before the Halloween pumpkin jets in from USA around Oct 20🎃
Reminiscent of Jim Hacker in "Yes, Prime Minister":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI9Ip0GLUJ0&t=892s