For you personally, what changes would you like to see the new DPJ government bring about in Japan?

Monday 31st August, 04:00 AM JST

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Latest 15 of 56 Total Comments Show All

bobbafett at 10:28 AM JST - 1st September

Reforms for workers in Japanese companies and an end put to 12 hours and unpaid overtime. This is killing Japan.
Farmboy at 11:03 AM JST - 1st September

Selfishly speaking, I hope they make it easier for foreigners who pay into retirement plans to get a retirement, and make mutual retirement agreements such as the totalization agreement with the US more accessible.

For Japan, it seems like stimulating the economy and assisting in job creation is essential. Additionally, more effort to smooth relations with South Korea and China would create a better environment. Of course, smoothing relations with North Korea would be good, too, but that may not be an easily available option.
paolo27th at 04:18 PM JST - 1st September

Paternity leave!
GW at 04:54 PM JST - 1st September

I figure at least 30% of my taxes are out & out wasted so get yr damned budgets under control, simplify them & give me 30% back starting in 2010!!!

BAN AMAKUDARI! PERIOD!

Allow dual nationality & I will apply.

Scrap the current pension system it is so broke literally & there isnt any money to pay pensioners, make a system where we contribute to ourselves & we can see whats there! I wud support a consumption tax increase to cover the broken system & start a new one BUT only if it WORKS, no more waste pleassssssssssssse.

Bottom line DPJ you eliminate waste across the board & I will smile more instead of fume everytime I head to the 7-11 to pay my taxes, health care etc!

You have yr mission, fufill it!!
takababababa at 05:37 PM JST - 1st September

Reform the Education system so that:

...High schools more efficiently teach English and/or Chinese, as well as a more international awareness of history and culture.

...University majors relate to careers and graduates don't (let's say) jump from English Literature to System Engineering... With the insuing in-company from-scratch training proving that a great portion of University education in this country is worthless.

...it embraces the low likelihood of Japanese youth ever having a life-long career.
realist at 06:52 PM JST - 1st September

Id like the new government to control and discipline the police, round up and jail Yakuza leadersdecrease taxation, stop building ridiculous things like airports for the transportation of vegetables, introuduce a Human Rights Bill, jail people who practice any form of discrimination, bring justice and equality to the Pension system, outlaw discrimination against foreigners in universities, reform totally the Education Ministry and get rid of the Rightists in it who try to hide the truth from the youth of Japan, demolish Yasukuni Shrine of Hate and establish a National War Memorial free from War Criminals, abolish Consumption Tax and increase taxes on booze and expecially cigarettes, introduce a blanket ban on smoking in all public places. That will do for starters. Japan then might become "beautiful."
griff at 07:31 PM JST - 1st September

Reforms for workers in Japanese companies and an end put to 12 hours and unpaid overtime. This is killing Japan.

socially it's killing japan. economically it's one of the major reasons for the "economic miracle"
LIBERTAS at 07:34 PM JST - 1st September

(1) Eliminate fingerprinting at the border. Period. (2) Issue Permanent Resident Cards, just like Canada. (3) Video/audio-tape all Police interrogations with legal counsel present. (4) Eliminate the "Guarantor" in rental leases. (5) Permit dual nationality. (6) Pass and actually enforce an anti-discrimination law. Really! (7) Decriminalize marijuana possession. Tax it and sell it legally. (8) Restructure the economy and thereby the work day, using daylight savings time etc., so people have time off, and don't define their very lives by their job titles. (9) Enforce existing laws against the bosozoku and the mob. (10) Make an outright ban on those gawdawful goofy hats everyone feels compelled to wear on their days off, or on some group outing. Hideous! These are my ideas, just for starters!
knowitall at 08:12 PM JST - 1st September

Eliminate the "special" permanent resident thing; make all those Koreans born and raised here citizens or send them back the their "home" country. The system just makes it harder to create policies regarding real (i.e. not born here) foreigners. You don't need to give your fingerprint at the airport if you are a permanent resident... but only if you are "special". The war ended 60+ years ago! it is time for them to decide if they want to be Japanese or Korean citizens, instead of having them as Koreans on the dole in Japan.
Cicada at 08:46 PM JST - 1st September

I don't want to see them bring about any changes at all. I would be grateful, though, if they managed to avoid making things worse. But I suspect the greatest achievment will be to lose the next election.
Betting at 11:11 PM JST - 1st September

Just allow us foreigners the right to vote in at least local elections and I'll become a little vocal of my criticisms of Japan. And the other things I'd like to see change (which are probably just as important or even more important)... 1. kill off that ridiculous amakudari system, as I'm sure it just encourages people to become public servants; 2. reduce the amount of public servants and their perks in general.
Betting at 12:55 AM JST - 2nd September

A little less I meant of my criticisms of Japan.
ca1ic0cat at 02:38 AM JST - 2nd September

Decent visitation rights for divorced fathers.
bobbafett at 09:22 PM JST - 2nd September

socially it's killing japan. economically it's one of the major reasons for the "economic miracle"

agreed but the failing social system will be the end of everything.
kirakira25 at 04:26 PM JST - 6th September

socially it's killing japan. economically it's one of the major reasons for the "economic miracle"

not anymore.

Dear Yukio:

Definitely a blanket ban on smoking in public and raise tobacco tax

Actually enforce the laws with stiff penalties especially for talking on cell phones, speeding, jumping red lights, drink driving, hit and run, and unrestrained kids in cars or on bikes without helmets, racial and sexual discrimination.

Dual nationality for PRs and half-Japanese children, and let PRs woth dual nationality vote.

De-regulate retail and allow more foreign competition, especially with food.

Deliver the promised help for young families

Revise the education system to teach English properly, and allow the poor kids a little more freedom.

A ban on unpaid overtime and a cap on the working hours per week - and enforce it properly.

De-concrete all the rivers.

Make child exploitation (lolicon etc) a criminal offence.

Should that read "Dear Yukio" or "Dear Santa"??!