In almost a parody of the term "bagman," former Democratic Party of Japan leader Ozawa Ichiro's right-hand man Yamaoka Kenji marches into the Diet office of DPJ Secretary-General Koshi'ishi Azuma with the envelope containing the resignation letters of 52 members of the DPJ.
Except, as it turns out, Yamaoka and his commander-in-chief Ozawa Ichiro did not have all 52 resignations from the party in the bag.
After Yamaoka's lunchtime delivery of the package, two of the members of the House of Representatives -- Shina Takeshi (Iwate District #1, two elections) and Tsuji Megumu (Osaka District #17, two elections) -- paid visits to Koshi'ishi's office asking him to please ignore their letters of resignation.
So the rebels did not even win a symbolic victory today, as 38 + 9 + 3 = 50, leaving those resigning from the DPJ today and their fellow travelers one short of the 51 members of the House of Representatives needed to submit a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet.
Quel bordel!