Sunday May 27, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Prime Minister Naoto Kan is facing calls from both within his party and from opposition parties to resign. Do you think his days are numbered?

Have Your Say Apr. 25, 2011 - 04:00AM JST ( 16 )

Order by Time Order by Popularity

16 Comments

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borschtApr. 25, 2011 - 07:43AM JST

A prime minister's days are numbered from the moment he takes office - there's a maximum of four years he can serve but he needs to be re-elected after two so there's an automatic renewal notice at two years. It would be nice if in this decade Japan manages to hold on to at least one prime minister for longer than a year.

I've said before, what difference does it make what lifetime Diet member is prime minister (except who to pay the kickbacks to)? Elect one for a ten-year term, install him in a nice mansion near Nagatacho and get on with the business of running the government. He can come out for ceremonial purposes, meeting heads of state, and compose poems during cherry blossom time.
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mrskitApr. 25, 2011 - 08:08AM JST

poor Kan and all the armchair cynics
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lovejapan21Apr. 25, 2011 - 09:01AM JST

Yes. on another note, how did koizumi do it??
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littleleonApr. 25, 2011 - 10:05AM JST

The thing that gets me with all of this, elections cost a lot of money. With all of this calling for resignation and running new elections etc, where is this money coming from? Surely the current batch of politicians can see that Japan needs that money elsewhere for now?
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cactusJackApr. 25, 2011 - 10:30AM JST

The revolving door is always...revolving.
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GWApr. 25, 2011 - 04:53PM JST

A PMs days are always numbered in Japan, gotta give everyone their kick at the can.

littleleon, no need for an election, they just pick another from the party & insert, done, kick out 6mths to a year later, repeat.

PMs are elected in Japan parties are then they pick their own
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GWApr. 25, 2011 - 04:54PM JST

Sorry PMs ARENT elected.....
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apecNetworksApr. 25, 2011 - 07:10PM JST

"lovejapan21 at 09:01 AM JST - 25th April

Yes. on another note, how did koizumi do it??"

Former PM Koizumi was what PM Kan isn't.
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sojherdeApr. 25, 2011 - 07:33PM JST

In such days this country needs a strong leader with a good motivation. People who just seek a chance to get promoted themselves will not succeed. I think Kan will stay on.
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seesaw2Apr. 26, 2011 - 12:11AM JST

Did I not see his pic somewhere with the word..coup de tat?
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apecNetworksApr. 26, 2011 - 05:53AM JST

"People who just seek a chance to get promoted themselves will not succeed. I think Kan will stay on."

It is possible that this disaster may save PM Kan, but Japanese voters should remember what PM Kan's Foreign Policy looked like prior to the Earthquake - serious lack of understanding. 20% voter approval ratings.
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browny1Apr. 26, 2011 - 09:58AM JST

Actually Japan's International relationships are more open, trusted and stronger now than they have been for many years.

Helped of course by the current tragedy, but many hard working members have earned the respect of other countries.

Kan, while being a "media fizzler", is no more inept than the countless dummies before him and now. In fact he certainly surpasses most for being honest.

The rabid ldp is worried his good relationships with the international community might thwart their "overthrow" plan, hence the increase in villifying the "devil".
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FadamorApr. 26, 2011 - 02:18PM JST

Kan's days were numbered even before he was made PM. Japan appears to currently have a "fix us now" mentality when what has been going wrong has been going on for decades. If the PM can't fix things in six months, the calls for his resignation begin.

To put it in dietary terms, the effects of 20 years of eating just fast food cannot be remedied by 6 months of fasting. You'll die of malnutrition long before you get to six months.
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apecNetworksApr. 26, 2011 - 03:18PM JST

It is going to be bad for Japan if he isn't removed from office soon. PM Kan and former FM Maehara have forsaken the Northern Territories to possible military bases. There are other things coming up, so now is a good time to give the guy a thankful goodbye.
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WilliBApr. 26, 2011 - 05:38PM JST

I think as fas as Japanese PMs go, Kan is doing a fair job.

Certainly, none of the protesters could be expected to any better than he is. Cheap political hay, nothing more.
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ZENJIApr. 26, 2011 - 07:36PM JST

no please no. how do we as a country move forward when we let politics take over. we need to focus on us, our recovery, our well being. we need to be stable in government for our country to move on past recent events.