KOIKE'S JAPANESE KARMA

Tokyo : Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, once seen as a possible first female Japanese Prime Minister-

Stepped down as a leader of her party Tuesday after suffering a crushing election defeat last month.

Vowing to do away with ''old politics,'' the charismatic former television anchorwoman launched a new party in September-

That aspired to offer an alternative to the long-governing Liberal Democratic Party and its leader Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the October 12 snap elections.

Her new ''Party of Hope'' fielded 235 candidates for the poll but won a mere 50 seats while Abe's ruling coalition grabbed a two-third majority.

Koike's support imploded partially because she failed to stand herself in the election.