Social Democratic Party chief Mizuho Fukushima, dismissing the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election campaign. (Kyodo)

5 Comments

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  outofmydepth at 09:01 AM JST - 14th September

  i totally agree. it is, always has been and always will be. otherwise, why would we have all these scandals, amakudari, bribes, suspended sentences.....i could go on. hey - it is apparently what the people want since they say and do nothing.

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  zurcronium at 09:09 AM JST - 14th September

  its like rewrapping a stinking, rotting fish in fresh newspaper.

  The LDP may finally be finished. If so its 20 years too late.

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  escape_artist at 02:56 PM JST - 14th September

  My guess is that most people in Japan won't change unless forced to change, and I mean a WHOLE lot more than just the consumption tax being raised to 10% or more. Why else, for instance, would the Japanese government only act AFTER the fact (yet again) to block any tainted rice from China when they should have been doing it from the very beginning, regardless of their WTO agreement to import such rice from other countries? Most people, I think, myself probably included, have just grown too comfortable over the years. Why else again would people allow such a travesty as the government ordering bushels of perfectly fine cabbage to be dumped rather than using it in some way to help alleviate the growing homeless problem, or the expanding economic gap between rich & poor, many of whom are going without food.

  Whether in Japan or anywhere, it's almost always when the majority experience discomfort that real change starts happening and accelerating. It's long been clear that money and business are much higher priorities to the LDP than people and their health or their happiness, be they living in Japan or elsewhere Japanese firms do business or trade with (think Burma, here, for one). One of these 5 clones will get elected, last a short while again, and then the process will be repeated -- and until people start acting up in unison -- repeated ad nauseam.

  What can really be done? Where can Japanese people -- as well as foreigners like myself in our limited capacity -- start to better society here? Is it possible without disrupting society and people's sensibilities too much (disrupting the wa)? Or is such "disruption" exactly what's needed?

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  Statistician at 05:21 PM JST - 14th September

  Japan needs an effective change of government just to prove to itself that it can, in fact, be done. Or can it?

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  burikko at 06:57 PM JST - 14th September

  The wrapping paper called Aso is considered very popular. So, the most of LDP persons have declared their will to support Aso, regardless of difference of opinions. That fits for their interests. In Japan, wrapping papers are more important than goods frequently.

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