Ex-LDP stalwart in epic battle Julian Ryall continues his series on key characters in Japan's election with Shizuka Kamei, who compares the prime minister to Hitler.

(From South China Morning Post)

LDP defector Shizuka Kamei makes no bones about his beliefs: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is more evil than Adolf Hitler.

He has never held the Japanese leader in the highest esteem - he was so unhappy with the direction the Liberal Democratic Party was taking he ran against Mr Koizumi for party president in 2003. But now Mr Kamei seems to find it hard to even say his name.

"I understand that he is very different to Hitler, but in many ways Mr Koizumi is even worse than him," he said.

"Hitler implemented many bad policies, but he at least passed laws to give himself absolute power. Mr Koizumi is worse …