Shinzo Abe, asked about his health on Tuesday in an unusually personal question from the normally sheepish Japanese press corps, replied that he had a slight cold. But, as in the movies, when someone sneezes, it usually presages certain death. Sure enough, less than 24 hours later, Mr Abe was a political corpse.

Kaoru Yosano, chief cabinet secretary, said that, although the prime minister had not mentioned it, his worsening physical condition may have played a big role in his decision to quit.