Matsuoka Toshikatsu (b. 1945) was a Diet representative and later Minister in the Liberal Democratic Party government of Prime Minister Koizumi. This is not a full biography but a wide-ranging political account of how this backbencher catered to local, sectional and clientele interests as he built his political power base. He thus was enabled to exercise influence over central government policy - at least for the time being. With references, bibliography and index.