J Update

The leader seems to have taken appeasement policy to settle a long dispute over territory. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in his interview to a local newspaper, admitted that Japan's change of attitude from reclaiming four islands, one of which is actually archipelago, to dividing them into two. He explained his decision as viable and realistic, putting aside a fact that Russia have shown no interest in it and kept its standpoint of not returning even two islands. It is still unclear whether current Japanese administration will follow that diplomatic outcome.      In the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Singapore in 2018, Abe proposed to accelerate the negotiation over the territory based on Joint Declaration of Japan and Soviet Union 1956, which determined transferring Habomai Islands and island of Shikotan after the conclusion of peace treaty. In his interview to Hokkaido Shimbun, Abe told that he thought it was "a big chance" and demerit of losing th

The governmental panel on stable imperial succession on Wednesday submitted two proposals to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, which fundamentally deferred requirement of National Diet to address gradual shrinking of the imperial family. While Imperial House Law Article 1 determines that "The Imperial Throne shall be succeeded to by a male offspring in the male line belonging to the Imperial Lineage," majority of the Japanese public has been understanding the necessity of female emperor. The panel, however, did not respond to those voices and, instead, is likely to have followed paternal preference of the conservatives.      Both proposals are about how to keep the members in imperial family with various opportunities to show up in ceremonial events or national activities. One is allowing female members retaining their imperial status after the marriage with a commoner, and another is include male heirs from former branches to imperial family by adoption, or direct inclusion in c

Trying to catch up with the efforts of recovery from infectious devastation in the world, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida raised his voice to sell his concept of updating Japanese society. In his policy speech on day 1 of extraordinary session of national Diet, Kishida insisted on promoting “neo-capitalism,” in which he would seek double track of growth and distribution, as a replacement of neo-liberalism economy. It seems to be a transition of Japan’s status from taking outstanding position in international economy to moderate and self-sufficient growth.      Kishida argued that achieving neo-capitalism was a common goal of America or Europe in the post-COVID world. Based on the notion that capitalism brought prosperity to human society through efficiency, entrepreneurship or vigorous production, and that neo-liberalism after 1980s caused various inconvenience such as wider income gap or prevalence of poverty, he regarded Build Back Better of US Biden administration or NextGenerationEU a

Seeking resilience from bitter defeat in the general election last month, Constitutional Democratic Party, second largest among all national parties, elected Kenta Izumi for their new president on Tuesday. While he was successful in reuniting the party to some extent, obtaining firm support from each inner groups, it was still not clear when and how he would take the administrative power back from leading Liberal Democratic Party. No one in CDP even seems to expect him to be Prime Minister so soon. Japanese politics will not see no change from the structure of solar system centered by LDP.      After reducing the seats in the election of House of Representative a month ago, the party leader and founder Yukio Edano announced his resignation without detailed assessment of the result of the race. The main issue must have been whether cooperation in the election with Japan Communist Party was good or bad. But, no one of four candidates for the president referred to the future of the relati

Japanese economy relies further on deficit of future generation. Cabinet led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida decided on Friday an extra budget that would amount new record of ¥36 trillion ($317 billion) of spending, two-third of the amount would be appropriated by new issuance of government bonds. Total balance of accumulated bonds is going to reach historical new high of ¥1 quadrillion at the end of next March. The government has shown no reliable plan of repayment.      Upholding policy change from growth-oriented to distribution, Kishida focuses on helping people damaged from COVID-19 infection. The stimulus package includes ¥100 thousand relief for a child 18 years old or younger, for a college student with little income and for a family with income as low as resident tax is exempted. Mid- or small businesses that sufferes from economic downturn will receive government support for their revitalization.       Kishida is eager to raise salary of fundamental workers, such as nurses or

In the first meeting after the general election of the House of Representatives last month, the Diet of Japan constitutionally elected Fumio Kishida as 101st Prime Minister of Japan on Wednesday. Kishida immediately organized his cabinet, which actually resulted in a minor change from the former one. However, it is possibly rather the big change in power balance inside the leading Liberal Democratic Party.     One of Kishida's important agenda is getting rid of neo-liberalism economics that has been upheld by LDP sidestream. Yes, LDP has mainstream and sidestream, since Kakuei Tanaka succeeded Prime Minister Eisaku Sato in 1972. Although Sato assumed Takeo Fukuda, who upheld pro-Taiwan and moderate financial policy, as his successor, Tanaka won LDP presidential election with popular pro-China and rapid growth policy. That is engraved in LDP history as the First Kaku-Fuku War. Even after Tanaka resigned due to the Lockheed scandal, his group maintained latent power over the administ

The 49th general election of House of Representatives resulted in absolute majority for leading Liberal Democratic Party, which meant stable political basis with the chairs and majority in each standing committees. Constitutional Democratic Party, leading opposite, failed in catching anti-LDP votes, handing them over to Restoration Party that would form the third party. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida may regard the outcome as credibility to his administration. It is sure that he achieved certain momentum for his one month young administration.                 During the campaign, LDP set the victory line at simple majority, 233 seats out of all 465 by combining with coalition partner Komeito. As ballot boxes was gradually opened Sunday night, a number of LDP candidates appeared to have win the battle ground constituencies and also accumulated seats in proportional elections. Against pessimistic predictions of media, or the party itself, LDP solely secured 261, maintaining its overwhelmin

The bride called her husband an indispensable existence and their marriage was necessary choice to protect their mind. The groom insisted on his life as only once and his right to be with his loved one. Her father wanted his daughter’s marriage to be celebrated by the people. The people were not sure whether the family was happy as a whole. Is this the traditional Japanese social system that makes no one happy? Mako Komuro, as known as Princess Mako during her life in one of the royal family Akishino, held on Tuesday a press conference with her husband Kei Komuro, right after submitting marriage report to local government. It was something different from ordinary Q&A session, because Mako was afraid of her mental uneasiness brought by some questions not based on truth. So, the event was actually one-sided speech to the reporters. Mako emphasized that the Kei’s decision of studying abroad five years ago had not been his original idea, but a result of her request to establish an over

As far as looking into the faces of new members of the administration, Japanese politics has not gotten rid of obsolete power game. The Diet of Japan elected Fumio Kishida, former Minister of Foreign Affairs in Shinzo Abe administration, to the 100th Prime Minister. PM Kishida immediately formed his Cabinet with balanced choice, from the ranked lawmakers to the novice, reflecting preference of powerful figures called Triple-A: Shinzo Abe, Taro Aso and Akira Amari. Although new administration embarks on, domestic or foreign policy of Japan would basically not change so much.      Soon after elected to President of Liberal Democratic Party last Wednesday, Kishida unofficially met with Amari to consult on choice of administrative staffs. The first choice was Amari himself to Secretary General of LDP, who would control campaign strategy for coming general election and be dealing with the opposition parties in the Diet. However, Amari embraces a money scandal five years ago, which the peopl

Liberal Democratic Party on Wednesday elected Fumio  Kishida , former Minister of Foreign Affairs in  Shinzo  Abe administration, to its supreme leader.  Although he could not achieve simple majority in the first ballot,  which  votes were distributed in even proportion between  all LDP lawmakers and the party affil iates all around Japan ,  Kishida  secured stable majority in the second ballot, gathering other candidates' votes.   While  Kishida  is designated to next Prime Minister succeeding  Yoshihide   Suga , it is still unclear that the party will be able to obtain stable victory  in coming general election of House of Representatives .   Kishida's  announcement of running to LDP presidential election was earlier than the most expected.  At the time  Kishida  had a press conference for his running, August 26th,  incumbent president, meaning Prime Minister,  Suga  was still hoping to maintain his administration with winning of the election.   After  Kishida's  announce

It is not very rare in Japanese politics that an administration succeeding powerful leadership lives quite short. Though the reason is still not clear, the successors seem to bear heavy burden accumulated in the previous administration. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s announcement of resignation as Prime Minister reflected political debt from his predecessor Shinzo Abe, who maintained his cabinet for over seven years. While Suga emphasized his intention to devote his power before he leaves not to election strategy, but to management for containment of COVID-19 infection, it was obvious that he was too desperate in maintaining his cabinet with recent precipitation of supporting rate. Facing growing anxiety in Liberal Democratic Party on his political mishandlings, which may cause negative impact of on next general election of House of Representatives this fall, Suga badly tried to renew the members of LDP senior leaders for his survival. Abe’s denial of Suga’s idea of having the general

     “Unequal treaty” is the term Japanese students learn in their history class related to the treaties Japanese government had to accept when it resumed foreign relationship at the time of Meiji Restoration in mid-nineteenth century. Signature and its renewal of Japan-US Commerce and Navigation Treaty in late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which marked Japan’s regain of extraterritoriality and tariff autonomy, are remembered as the end of diplomatically unequal era. The Japanese reminded of that history by unchangeable contract with International Olympic Committee over Tokyo 2020 games.      Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese Olympic Committee and IOC signed Host City Contract 2020 in Buenos Aires in 2013, which determined the conditions to hold Olympic games in Tokyo. In Article 66 on termination of contract, it says “In case of withdrawal of the Games by the IOC, or termination of this Contract by the IOC for any reason whatsoever, the City, the NOC (JOC), and t

Mainly due to malfunctioning of COVID-19 policy of the Japanese government, the operation for Tokyo Olympic Games 2020, which opening ceremony is set three days away, is in total mess. Domestic media in Japan keep on reporting consecutive discovery of athletes or staffs related to Olympic teams, who are infected with the virus. Those who are registered as infected, even if not having symptom of the disease, have to stay in the room, regardless their schedule of the games. All the foreigners required not to have any physical contact with Japanese residents. Those are attributed to the regulative policy of Japanese government or Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee. Though you would not be able to walk around your hotel, welcome to Japan. According to the playbook, actually the regulation list, issued by the committee, foreign athletes or staffs arrived to Japan cannot use public transportation system for 14 days. They are not free to visit anywhere not designated to be visited. Observers are