Outspoken conservative Taro Aso took power as Japan's prime minister today after he overcame opposition forces in the split parliament, tasked with rejuvenating the ailing ruling party ahead of elections.

Yoshinori Umemoto once made a decent living as a writer and assistant TV director – until his freelance jobs dried up and four production companies he worked for closed down.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s party lost seats but held on to a majority in weekend parliamentary elections in Japan.