DPJ lawmaker refuses to step down over alleged illegal donations

Saturday 14th March, 11:48 PM JST

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14 Comments

sharky1 at 05:53 PM JST - 14th March

These days, good politicians are hard to buy.
herefornow at 06:29 PM JST - 14th March

Anyone who expected this guy to act in a honorable fashion obviously just came here to Japan. This country has become a complete joke -- economy in a tailspin, and all the politicians are doing is worrying if they'll be the next ones questioned by prosecutors, and then refusing to resign.
Shumatsu_Samurai at 07:09 PM JST - 14th March

This country has become a complete joke

Far from it, Japan is still a country with a lot of respect. If it has nothing to offer, why are you living there?

Economy in a "tailspin"? Could say that about a lot of countries, yet no one is being hysterical about them. Politicians are self-centred the world over. Get over the idea that Japan is somehow unique in that.
herefornow at 07:33 PM JST - 14th March

Shumatsu_Samurai -- "a lot of respect"? From who exactly? Did you see the cover-story of last week's Newsweek? It featured a picture of a beleagured looking Aso, with a headline along the lines of: "Why can't Japan produce any leaders?" Or, how about a couple of weeks ago when Clinton was here visiting. All the world saw, simultaneously, pictures of her looking completely professional and competent, and Nakagawa being drunk in Rome. If you are going to make comments about Japan's standing outside of here, you really need to seek information at places other than NHK. And even NHK says only 10% of voters think highly of Aso and his colleagues. Where is all this respect I'm missing?
medievaltimes at 11:27 PM JST - 14th March

Politically Japan is pretty much a joke. And no Samurai, all countries and their governments are not the same. There are differences. Maybe "no one is being hysterical about" other countries becuase they don't have the same problems that Japan currently has.

I could go on and on but just read the story instead...

www.newsweek.com/id/186965
Shumatsu_Samurai at 12:05 AM JST - 15th March

Who's talking about respect for Aso? Who said I was even talking politically? As a country it is still fairly well regarded. Most people around the world don't care about what other countries' leaders are like. Do you think people know who Canada's Prime Minister is, let alone whether he's capable? No, but Canada is reasonably well regarded even if it doesn't have a huge profile. Same works with Japan.

Why can't Japan produce any leaders? Koizumi was a leader. It seems that Newsweek has a very short memory. Of course Japan has problems, but they're not unique.

I don't watch NHK, funnily enough - you seem to know more about it than I do.
930148mike at 03:17 AM JST - 15th March

There are a number of variables currently affecting politics in Japan. One is will either leader of the major parties (Mr Taro Aso or Mr Ichiro Ozawa) remain in office to fight the next election? Another is will there be a real electoral choice between the policies of the LDP and the DPJ? Yet another is will either major party avoid fragmentation and the emergence of a potential 'third force'? For myself, I think that the Nishimatsu Scandal will force Mr Ozawa's removal whilst plummeting approval ratings will continue to weaken Mr Aso's shaky leadership. I also think that the political agenda of both major parties - economic recovery and welfare reform - will be almost identical at the next poll. I further think that, should back-bench disaffection within the conservative as well as left-leaning wings of each party not be resolved, a new, centrist party could emerge from the vortex. Let us therefore sit back and observe the gradual evolution of these matters.
TokyoHustla at 06:53 AM JST - 15th March

DPJ lawmaker refuses to step down over alleged illegal donations

...and demonstrates why the DPJ will be buried forever in the next election. They have no sense of accountability. The fact is that the LDP is the government - it's impossible to elect anyone else since the LDP is the government by definition.

I will vote LDP, as will all voters in my household, if they want to continue to eat. We cannot let upstarts with no concrete ideas lead a coup against our nation.
herefornow at 10:59 AM JST - 15th March

Shumatsu_Samurai -- Thanks, you answered my question. If you had read the article I referenced, you would have known that the author did speak about Koizumi. But, he was the exception, rather than the rule. He was proceeded by a string of empty suits, and has been rapidly followed by a string of three more. Also, since this article is about a political figure refusing to take responsibilty for his acts, any other "respect" that Japan may enjoy, but which you cannot seem to define, is really not topical. Politically, this country is a joke, as I stated in my original post. And, yes, I do watch NHK news. As a business person here, it is good to stay in touch with the sentiment of the populace. Why don't you?
Shumatsu_Samurai at 08:33 PM JST - 15th March

Politically, this country is a joke, as I stated in my original post.

You didn't use the word politically once in your first post. If you had been just talking about politics you wouldn't have raised the economy. Don't move the goalposts.

And, yes, I do watch NHK news. As a business person here, it is good to stay in touch with the sentiment of the populace. Why don't you?

Oh grow up, of course I dip in to it now and again. But it was so childish of you to allege I watch nothing but it. Why would I just watch something like that when I'm not even Japanese?! Do you think I have no interest in home or news that comes from abroad?
ANOTSUSAGAMI at 09:02 PM JST - 15th March

Shumatsu- Give it up. Your post was off-topic, and IMO, completely out of touch. Japanese politicians have for a long time been an embarassment to Japan. Koizumi was the first real leader in a long time in this nation of followers, and even he has been showing signs of losing his marbles. His greatest claim to fame, besides revising the temp worker laws, was the privatization of Japan Post. The same company under investigation for fraud. Ishikawa refusing to resign to take responsibility for his unlawful and shady dealings is just business as usual. Not saying that politicians elsewhere are angels, but there's at least the possibility to correct the situation in most democracies. This guy will sweep this stuff under the rug and undoubtedly get re-elected. The system here in Japan is broken, and guys like this benefit. Deplorable.
Shumatsu_Samurai at 11:17 PM JST - 15th March

Japanese politicians have for a long time been an embarassment to Japan.

Certainly they're a negative. But who knows or cares about that? Does Joe Average's view of Japanese politics enter into his view of the country? Hardly.
IvanCoughalot at 11:22 PM JST - 15th March

What more do people want? He used the word "Apologise" and the word "sincere" in the same announcement - that's almost the same as being innocent.
Shumatsu_Samurai at 03:03 AM JST - 16th March

What more do people want? He used the word "Apologise" and the word "sincere" in the same announcement - that's almost the same as being innocent.

I'm not saying he is innocent, but the guy hasn't even been charged. Funny how people on this website will rail against the Japanese justice system, yet they're so fast to condemn people and act as judge and jury themselves.

How hypocritical....