Sunday May 27, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Do you see any hope for politics in Japan?

Poll Aug. 29, 2011 - 05:15AM JST ( 14 )

Order by Time Order by Popularity

14 Comments

1

JapanGalAug. 29, 2011 - 09:52AM JST

It is a joke.
-3

johninnahaAug. 29, 2011 - 11:49AM JST

JapanGal

Do you mean that Japanese politics is a joke?

If so I don't get it.
0

borschtAug. 29, 2011 - 09:40PM JST

Unless the citizens stand up and say stop your foolish internal bickering and squabbles, Japanese politics will continue to fail them and will continue to do best for politicians and their cronies.
2

tideofironAug. 30, 2011 - 12:54PM JST

People here have never really bought into democracy because the current political and economic system was forced upon them. Much of Japan's post-war history, which has never really been told properly, is the attempt to keep the feudal-military state apparatus intact while giving the illusion of democracy to the outside world. Japanese people aren't stupid - they recognize this fact, though they often can't articulate it properly because the education system has never taught them to do so.

Democratic politics, as Westerners understand it, doesn't have much of a chance to thrive here because the ground is not fertile for it - meaning that the systems and buffers that prevent change are too strong for one man, or even one party, to overcome. The tacit agreement between society and the bureaucracy (ie. the feudal lords) is that as long as everyone has a modicum of prosperity, the political system (and the accompanying illusion of democratic party politics) will be kept as it is. If that agreement is broken on a large enough scale, the system might be reformed (there are indeed some cracks showing since 3/11) but the process would take a long time and would require much public anger. When you hear Japanese people complain that voting never changes anything so they don't vote, they aren't joking - there is absolutely no chance of their vote or opinion affecting anything whatsoever - so feel scorn for them!
0

tideofironAug. 30, 2011 - 12:56PM JST

Sorry - that should be, DON'T feel scorn for them.
0

SamuraiBlueAug. 30, 2011 - 01:18PM JST

tideofironAug. 30, 2011 - 12:54PM JST People here have never really bought into democracy because the current political and economic system was forced upon them.

Unless you are talking about the Meji restoration, democracy has been established in Japan since the end of the 19th century. The problem with the today's system is 1. the bureaucracy organization is too strong withholding information to themselves through complicated sectioning and politicians believes that the prime minister can be changed through internal party disruption creating groups within parties hijacking the system. The voters had of the present government elected against tax hike before reformation of the bureaucracy organization and this should be carried out. I believe they should pass a law prohibiting replacing the prime minister due to internal party affairs and should place a mandate to initiate a national election to replace that position.
0

tideofironAug. 30, 2011 - 01:47PM JST

Yeah, please forgive the ignorance of some things in my post but the basics of what I'm trying to argue are the same as what you're saying.. The bureaucratic system in Japan has prevented a lot of Japan's growth and personal agendas have dictated how policy is carried out rather than the interests of Japanese people at large. I'm not saying that I understand what is good for Japanese people but it seems clear that the system, as it is, has failed a lot of people. I can't even imagine what would have to be done to fix the system. I'm positive that, as a foreigner, there's very little I can do to try and change anything and that anything that happens must be on Japan's own terms. Whatever occurs, I'm staying right out of it.
0

Graham DeShazoAug. 30, 2011 - 04:06PM JST

Ultimately, you get the govt. you choose/elect/deserve. Sigh (look misty-eyed while abandoning hope as I have no voting rights, only the "right" to pay higher taxes.)
0

Kersey23Aug. 30, 2011 - 04:38PM JST

Nope! No way! No how! So sad. I wish it would be different but first you need to clean out Nagatacho of all politicians and diplomats and than start all over again from scratch. Anyone's relative who was a politician before should not be allowed be allowed to have a public office.
0

kaketamaAug. 30, 2011 - 09:46PM JST

Most politicians in Japan are interested only in their own benefit, not in country's and citizens' one. Most Japanese citizens aren't interested in politics and are merely affected by TV for their choice of vote. I don't see any way to the hope.
0

icanthinkofoneAug. 30, 2011 - 09:51PM JST

IMHO the only way things would get better is if some very smart and very politically suave politician appears and manages to pull everything together. Unite his party (doesn't matter which one) and "subdues" the opposition, so shit can get done.

Not the overhaul of the political system some here might want, but it is more "realistic". Changing a social/political system normally brings with it a great amount of chaos before things settle down - assuming they ever settle down. Don't know if the majority really wants such "change".
-1

johninnahaAug. 30, 2011 - 11:53PM JST

There going to have to get someone that people will listen to first. Whenever I talk about Japanese politicians with Japanese friends, the conversation doesn't stay on topic long.

Basically, they don't find it interesting.

This may well be the people whom I have as friends.

But my judgement is that Japanese people are in apathy about their politicians.

With this attitude, there is little hope for Japanese politics.

But things could happen to change it!
-1

just-a-guySep. 09, 2011 - 02:03AM JST

Indeed there is 'hope' if the JCP came to power! And the people understood the DPJ were no difference like LDP!
0

FarmboySep. 19, 2011 - 02:24PM JST

There is always hope. Politics is full of new faces, and the new faces are allowed more power based on how they deal with the old faces. Temptation and corruption are there to be dealt with, and some people can deal with them, so there is hope. I think the new prime minister is doing better than I expected so far, by the way.