Clinton requests meeting with DPJ's Ozawa during Japan visit

Wednesday 11th February, 06:27 AM JST

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Samuraiiki at 12:00 PM JST - 11th February

Good luck to both of them.
smithinjapan at 02:11 PM JST - 11th February

Hahaha... I suppose Japan can't be too happy any longer that she chose Japan as the first foreign visit; or rather, the leading party can't be bragging about it anymore. The only shame is that Ozawa is no different than Aso.
nutsagain at 03:01 PM JST - 11th February

Ozawa has shown no clear policies, no real initiatives, just stonewalling for the sake of stonewalling. WIth his over the top sense of self importance, he's gonna really just love this...
NuckinFutz at 04:31 PM JST - 11th February

I guess the LDP could find a way to deny her a visa!
medievaltimes at 05:59 PM JST - 11th February

This will anger the LDP but who cares. This is smart politics by Obama.
Statistician at 10:24 PM JST - 11th February

Well, obviously she would want to talk to Ozawa. The LDP aren't going to be in office long enough to make a difference now.
cracaphat at 10:37 PM JST - 11th February

Here is Ozawa's chance to sabotage once and for all his chance to become P.M.

Re: DPJ non policies: Read the manifesto.
onewrldoneppl at 10:43 PM JST - 11th February

clinton: we're now bi-partisan, so you become bi-partisan too. cooperate with the LDP to create stability in the region. convince n. korea to de-nuclearize. ok? gesturing with her hands, speaking caveman english, using sock puppets

ozawa: very nice ... how much?
zurcronium at 10:47 PM JST - 11th February

LDPs fear has come true. They better hope obama does not come to japan soon and pass over the dead for decades LDP as Clinton is now doing.

This is the best news for Japan in months.
Ranger_Miffy at 04:37 AM JST - 12th February

Will SofS Clinton be treated to fingerprinting at the airport? Nihon o yokoso.
TokyoHustla at 05:46 AM JST - 12th February

Ranger Miffy:

Yes, of course she will. What does she have to hide?

That said - no, we diplomatic passport holders do not have our fingerprints taken. This is part of the agreement. I pass through the diplomatic line at the airport - have you never seen it?
Shumatsu_Samurai at 07:17 AM JST - 12th February

I really am amazed that so many people on JT react with the blinkered view that if something or someone is not part of the LDP then it is good. Do they honestly think the DPJ is going to be a net positive influence, or is their hatred of the ruling party such that they'd be satisfied to see Japan get worse so long as the LDP were gone?

If anyone wants to say the DPJ will be better, please list what they will do and how long it will take them to do it. That way one can hold them to their predictions.
zurcronium at 11:40 AM JST - 12th February

The point is that the DPJ cannot be any worse. PM Aso symbolizes all that is wrong with the LDP. Entitled, inept, corrupt, dishonest, out of touch, living in the past and a total failure. More examples? Abe, Fukuda and Zumi says it all. The LDP power structure and its tired policies need to be flushed.
Shumatsu_Samurai at 07:18 PM JST - 12th February

The point is that the DPJ cannot be any worse.

Why can't it be any worse? The people I've talked to say that it could easily be worse, because the DPJ is not unified on anything other than the fact it dislikes the LDP. It is a party of opposition. If it really formed a government it is quite possible it would self-destruct or, even worse, spend most of its time bickering but cling on for a full term.

PM Aso symbolizes all that is wrong with the LDP. Entitled, inept, corrupt, dishonest, out of touch, living in the past and a total failure.

Is Ozawa any better? I would say he's all of those, but also rude, stubborn, tired and deceitful. Don't forget he used to be a happy member of the LDP.

The LDP power structure and its tired policies need to be flushed.

Quite possibly, but the same could be said about the DPJ. If they were anywhere near a credible party of government they would have been elected years ago. At least the LDP had leaders like Koizumi. Who has the DPJ produced of note? No one.

Although I would like to think that a defeat for the LDP would cause a positive shift in Japanese politics, I fear that it might just solidify the current system. The older, conservative LDP members will keep their seats whilst the younger, reformist ones will lose them. Then the core will bide their time and wait until the DPJ lose all credibility. Then the LDP will take control again, and it will be like they never lost power.

Alternatively if the DPJ lose again, this time the pro-business, pro-reform members might break away and form a party that people who are like-minded can flock to. That's what Japan needs. But if it is rewarded with a term in office, when it loses power it will think "well we had a good run" or "the only reason we lost was because we had to make hard decisions in the depression" and settle down in opposition again.
930148mike at 10:43 PM JST - 14th February

Given that the Government of Prime Minister Mr Taro Aso is deeply unpopular and that the LDP he leads will probably lose the next General Election, it is prudent of the US Secretary of State to seek a Meeting with the alternative Prime Minister of Japan, Mr Ichiro Ozawa. Since Mr Ozawa has indicated that a DPJ-led Government will follow a more independent foreign policy course than that of the United States, Secretary Clinton may wish to establish links with Mr Ozawa in the hope that cordial relations between Washington and Tokyo can be maintained. Mrs Clinton understands that the cosy arrangements between the United States and LDP-led Governments may soon be things of the past. She is also aware that the way the DPJ will do things in Japan is to be quite different from that of the LDP. She is, therefore, probably engaging in some pre-emptive diplomacy - preserving those ties forged under the LDP and seeking new ones potentially under the DPJ. It is a difficult balancing act and it remains to be seen how effective her new diplomacy, based on "smart power", will turn out to be.