Maehara calls on Ozawa, Hatoyama for support
TOKYO —
Former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, who declared his candidacy to replace Naoto Kan as prime minister next week, on Wednesday visited former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and former Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leader Ichiro Ozawa to ask for their support in the Aug 30 party presidential election.
While the details of Maehara’s meetings were not disclosed, Ozawa—who heads the DPJ’s largest faction with about 140 members—told a meeting of his supporters in the afternoon that he will support the candidate who can best unite the party, present a new vision based on the DPJ’s 2009 election manifesto and forge a good working relationship with opposition parties, NHK reported. Hatoyama said later that whoever becomes prime minister should be guided by Ozawa’s experience, NHK also reported.
In the past, Maehara has distanced himself from Ozawa who is under indictment over a political funds scandal. Maehara’s meeting with Ozawa lasted only 10 minutes.
Maehara, 49, says he is running for the party presidency because he is deeply concerned about Japan’s future.
Japan Today
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27 Comments
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1
sillygirl
why does this CRIMINAL still have power? there is something so wrong with the political system here. and my respect for Maehara just dropped a notch as he went and "kissed the ring."
0
some14some
a common lie used by all the politicians all over the world.
1
globalwatcher
Et Tu, Brute (And you too, Brutus)?
0
paulinusa
This is like a game of poker ( liar's poker ? ). Who's holding, who's folding and who's bluffing.
-1
plasticmonkey
and we all know what Ozawa's 'experience' is in
4
smithinjapan
So we have Maehara, a guy who has walked out on the job twice due to scandals, consulting an indicted criminal who has walked out on the job, and a former PM who walked out on the job in order that the former may become PM?
Saying 'the blind leading the blind' is too much of a euphemism for what's going on here.
1
tkoind2
Ozawa is a criminal thug. It should sicken people that these idiot PM potentials are crawling to Ozawa for approval while the man is under criminal suspicion.
Again, backwards, medieval governance.
0
2020hindsights
The sooner they throw Ozawa in jail the better. I wonder if he will still exert power over the party then.
But who am I kidding. There is no way in Japan that a slippery figure like Ozawa will see the inside of a jail cell. It's about as likely as convicting Berlusconi in Italy.
0
JapanGal
I am gagging.
0
Tamesu San
My man!: smithinjapan, "So we have Maehara, a guy who has walked out on the job twice due to scandals, consulting an indicted criminal who has walked out on the job, and a former PM who walked out on the job in order that the former may become PM? Saying 'the blind leading the blind' is too much of a euphemism for what's going on here." AINT THAT THE TRUTH!
btw all from what I've been told foreigners will never be allowed to vote anyway....
but when when you look at what Edgar Cayce's Predictions about Japan.....well....
1
cleo
I was indifferent to Maehara's candidacy. Now I'm decidedly against it.
Not that anything I think makes any difference.
0
minello7
So whoever gets the backing of Ozawa,will always be under his control. Because nothing in this world comes free. Maehara must be aware of this, and if he isn't then he is in the wrong house.
2
smithinjapan
minello7: I'm pretty sure he's aware of it -- but then again, most Japanese politicians need to be told what to do instead of acting of their own volition or coming up with their own ideas (well, okay, it's not limited to politicians here). I can just see the doors opening to Ozawa's office and the Godfather theme song coming on, Ozawa holding out his hand to be kissed, and Hatoyama on all fours wagging his butt in the air, tongue sticking out, and panting as he runs around Ozawa's legs (giving the odd, playful bark).
0
Asagao
So for all those who had the sole reason for liking this corrupt politition was because he didn't breeze up to Ozawa and Hatyama...raspberry.
-4
just-a-guy
Mr Ozawa was the best guy to chair the PM post of Japan and anyone recommended by him must be a perfect choice. But if Mr Maehara believes he could gain supports within that 10 minutes meeting will be naive!
-2
just-a-guy
Mr Ozawa was a criminal as you guys states? Well whatever he has done was what the political system of Japanese democracies has produced rather than his own! He wasnt the first person taking money and those money were not from the hands of 'gaijin'!But remember if a person who was within his/her knowledges and was 'willfully' taking money from 'foreigners' was a violation of law and that was regarded as 'treasons'! So who is more 'criminaly motivated' ?
0
tokyokawasaki
What experience is he referring to exactly?
-Thinking and acting like a dinosaur
-Being an outdated thug
-How to get away with financial fraud - and blame everyone else if you are suspected
If the new PM follows Ozawa and his cronies advice, Japan will find itself continuing to go back in time instead of making any real progress. Once again 'sighs'...
0
Lazaros Parasidis
Unite we will prevail ... china is down, kapput ... lp speaking
0
hatsoff
What - that lapdog poodle Hatoyama said the next prime misister should be guided by Hatoyama's master, Ozawa? If these candidates are real leaders then that should be a clear signal to kick Ozawa out for good and start a fresh, clean chapter in the DPJ's history.
If you can't be your own man, don't bother applying for the job.
1
YuriOtani
Going to give an offering to the porcelain goddess. Things are going from bad to worse
1
BlueWitch
Potato-face OZAWA?? That criminal? I can't believe he's still in power...What an utter DISGRACE!!!!
0
Alex80
If we look at the nuclear policy, Maehara should be the best choice. He is the only one who seems agree with Kan's idea to reduce Japan's dependence on nuclear.
But I'm worry because he is pro-USA. Japan should be closest to China than US, but it's impossible because it is an american colony (like my country, Italy).
0
globalwatcher
@Alex80, it may ONLY possible if China changes to a democracy and to stop thretning Aisan countries.
0
hanataro
since mobu chan the formal president resigned in 2006 the japanese leaderschip as presidents fails yearly once. since then just does not work to find a president. ozawa is the biggest criminal. he should be years after the bars. if he will be a president for japan reamins FF forward back.
0
globalwatcher
@hanataro, Who is mobu chan? I did not know Japan has a presidential election. Confused.
-1
Hikozaemon
Ozawa was reported as saying yesterday that he thinks Maehara coming to power would cause Japan to collapse. So I guess these guys did not patch anything up - not surprising, Maehara has always been very anti-Ozawa and Ozawa takes it personally, although I'm not sure of any other specific reasons that Ozawa has for not supporting him.
Out of a terrible lineup, Maehara is far and away my choice, even though it will be miserable being the PM in the year leading up to the next election.
People shouldn't be such sheep swallowing propaganda about Ozawa - the establishment is afraid of Ozawa and his prosecution is politically motivated. The fact he scares the forces actually running Japan so much (because he actually has the power to challenge them) is why he is an important part of Japanese politics, and why he commands the support and respect of half of the DPJ.
Peace
1
Anna Louise
definition of poli-tic(ian)s = mass blood-suckers!
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