The LDP suffered a massive loss in this election and the opposition party DPJ won a landslide victory over the LDP.Hi,
Following the LDP election victory, where does that leave Japanese business and Japanese society? Could it benefit Japanese business or hinder it?
Thanks
Mark.
I just hope it doesn't mean we're going to start down the trail to our own little version of Obaba-esque La-La Land.
Hard to say at this time simply because DPJ has not governed Japan before. With some precedents on record, then, we could draw some predictions. Changing a tradition-bound Japan is a difficult task to say the least. Based on their campaign promises, they will try to put consumers (or, regular individual tax payers / citizens) first ahead of Japan's corporate interests. I will reserve my judgement until they show me the money.We are all asking questions. What are the answers?
Social change? Economic change? Political activism?
Change can be good, but virtually any radical change rips societies apart, to arrive at a much less quality lifestyle, to return to the starting point 10 years later. Net-net, zero change?
What do these changes mean? Nothing?
Before dismissing any more information on this topic, I seriously urge you to find out more about it, read and educate yourself. In the early going, everything appears to be working in the new government's favor. As Japan heads into Silver Week, the Hatoyama government's standing could not be better. It has the popular support of the people it needs to set itself up to succeed; the prime minister chose wisely in picking his cabinet ministers.Folks, no plans? No stated goals? No directives? No clues? No agendas?
I guarantee, one of two things, and maybe both.
No changes as a consequence, and maybe chaos, and maybe chaos in making no changes.
This is a classic case of ..."The more promises of change that are made, the less likely that any changes will take place."
I am not sure if anyone remembers the movie, "The Candidate" with Robert Redford... as the most unlikely of challenging candidates, he miraculously finally wins the Senate seat election, and he turns to his campaign manager and says... "Well, now what do I do?".
Well, the stimulus package is being reversed so I hope your check has already been pocketed. ;-) But seriously, their first step toward fiscal responsibility, to propose widening the revenue base by closing loopholes that have favored certain corporations, at least is a wise one for a country and a tax system that is riddled with them to the tune of an astounding 70% of Japanese companies that can avoid paying tax.Hard to say at this time simply because DPJ has not governed Japan before. With some precedents on record, then, we could draw some predictions. Changing a tradition-bound Japan is a difficult task to say the least. Based on their campaign promises, they will try to put consumers (or, regular individual tax payers / citizens) first ahead of Japan's corporate interests. I will reserve my judgement until they show me the money.
A new era in Japanese politics has truly begun.
From the Showa era up to now, the Heisei era, Hideki Tojo, Shigeru Yoshida, and Kakuei Tanaka can be said to have left their marks on history.
While prime ministers such as Yasuhiro Nakasone, who promoted administrative reform, and Junichiro Koizumi, who championed privatization of the postal services, will be remembered for their particular accomplishments, it is difficult to say that they represented their times.
Hideki Tojo turned Japan, which since the Meiji era had followed a basic path of developing into a modern country through cooperation with the West, into a militaristic nation that opposed the West. Shigeru Yoshida worked to return Japan to its pre-war path of cooperation with the West by working with General MacArthur of the GHQ, who temporarily governed Japan after its defeat in the war, and, in particular, to resurrect the pre-war Japan under the protection of the U.S, creating the foundation of present main-stream conservative Japan.
Then Kakuei Tanaka broke from the morals and ideals of Japan and led the country into an era that was centered on economic growth.
Demanding change, the Japanese people voted into power the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). (DPJ President) Yukio Hatoyama will (strive to) end Japan's deference to the U.S. and opposes bureaucrat-led politics, the foundation of conservative politics. If Hatoyama is successful, this will without doubt bring about a new era, and Hatoyama will go down in Japanese history as a prime minister whose impact was surpassed only by Yoshida's.
Strive for a sovereign Japan
The main stream of conservatism is based on logrolling between politicians and bureaucrats and maintaining the status quo. During the 20th century, an era of wars and fiercer international competition, it is clearly evident that based on the ideas of conservatism, Japan avoided risks and consistently maintained the status quo.
The 21st century is said to be the century of Asia, an era in which both the political and military power of the U.S. and Western Europe will decline. Hatoyama possesses the ideals of the elder statesmen of the Meiji era, and it is time to strive for the ideals of Yoshida?to transform Japan into a leading country, a super power of Asia, in cooperation with the West. However, the present constitution and U.S.-Japan Security Treaty stand in the way of Hatoyama's ideals and philosophy.
There are gaps between the ideals embodied in the present constitution and those of Hatoyama and between the ideal of equality with the U.S. and the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty. These issues cannot be resolved overnight. In addition, should the public works projects under way be frozen or improved? Where will the funds to support people raising children and the welfare of the Japanese come from?
Along with the more than 140 Ozawa children (newly elected members of the Diet who won due to Ichiro Ozawa), who know nothing about politics, how will Hatoyama face the coming contradictions between ideals and reality? Hatoyama will probably feel a chill as the warmth of victory fades and he looks at the present conditions.
People who know Japan's history of constitutional government likely think that "time is truly ironic." A descendent of Shigeru Yoshida (Asao) was defeated, and a descendent of Ichiro Hatoyama has become the leader of Japan, and this descendent of Ichiro Hatoyama (constantly opponent to Shigeru Yoshisa ) is now working to realize the ideals of the Shigeru Yoshida.
On the Marine air station Okinawa base question, one of the two major sticking points between the DPJ and the US government, the Hatoyama government is already abandoning a manifesto position demanding relocation to an offshore facility.
http://mainichi.jp/select/seiji/news/20090927ddm001010096000c.html
http://www.asahi.com/politics/update/1007/TKY200910070452.html?ref=rss
I suggest US government not to think of Mr You & I because DPJ government will end soon.
DPJ govenrment is changing economic stimulus package former PM Aso launched and Japan's economy will soon be sink again. Until end of this year, japanese meda will be relatiovely gentle about Mr You & I but from the beginning of next year, he will be more bashed due to worsening economy as well as muddle policies.
In short, Japan's PM (or Mr You & I) was amateur, dreaming fields of flowers.
Whether the DPJ opposed the Aso package or not, they're still getting the tail end of its economic benefits. As Hatoyama concentrates on his own version stimulus to kick start domestically-led growth -- universal child allowances, reimbursement of public school expenses, abolition of road taxes and income support for farming households etc. It probably won't have an effect before 2011, though. So growth may take a hit the first part of next year but hopefully be mitigated with an increase in export demand from China & the US.I suggest US government not to think of Mr You & I because DPJ government will end soon.
DPJ govenrment is changing economic stimulus package former PM Aso launched and Japan's economy will soon be sink again. Until end of this year, japanese meda will be relatiovely gentle about Mr You & I but from the beginning of next year, he will be more bashed due to worsening economy as well as muddle policies.
In short, Japan's PM (or Mr You & I) was amateur, dreaming fields of flowers.
The fund management organization of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama overstated its income from the sale of tickets to fund-raising parties, according to sources.
Yuai Seikei Konwa-kai (fraternity association of politics and economics) listed ticket sales of 248 million yen for five years through 2008, but the actual amounts recorded in its account books were much lower, the sources said.
The Asahi Shimbun | Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama may have violated the Political Fund Control Law by not reporting rent for his private office in Tokyo's Nagatacho district, The Asahi Shimbun has learned. The Asahi Shimbun | Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
Disguised donations 'almost 200 million yen'
The Asahi Shimbun | Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis
In short, Japan's new PM Hatomaya is laden with political slush fund. He may be able to escape the questions about party fund raising for months but cannt escape forever.
Mr You & I (Hatoyama) resignation may be earlier than I except.
Not with the huge public support he has. He's in touch with the public and people like the direction he's taking Japan. If they trust his judgement, they will give him some latitude for small indescretions.