360∘∘degree turn

DPJ won.

Now, the Japanese Obama will be choosing his cabinet members. As LDP's sun set , after 50 years of rule, what will be of Japan from now on? Will DPJ push on the independent foreign policies of Japan and be prepared for the consequences?

As this dawn of new day for Japan rises, it's interesting to see new political actors and will these old actors steal the scene? Or will they follow Aso's philosophy of revitalizing LDP's magic touch?

I bet all eyes are on Japan right now, especially that the Yen is getting stronger. :)

The other face of war

I was giddy last Saturday, after knowing that or cable Digital box has been installed. Immediately, I scanned for new channels and landed on HISTORY Channel. The documentary was about a man, who showed the Jews another side of the war. He was Chiune Sugiwara.

Chiune Sugiwara then was a Consul under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1940s, is the time where the Nazis' were spreading terror to the Jews to show that they were the supreme race. An order was sent to the Central Government of Japan to eliminate the Jews in Japan. A Jew told Sugiwara that the Japanese may be the Nazi's ally. However, the Japanese will never be Germans, and the threat of being wiped out is possible.

Sugiwara wrote visas for the begging Jews and Polish day and night. From then, he saved thousands of them. He lost his lavish lifestyle as a government official and became a poor trader in Russia. After decades, a Jew he once saved finally met him. He asked Sugiwara a question he's been meaning to ask all those years. "Why did you issue those visas?"

The ex-minister felt confused and did not know the answer to the question. He said, " There's no need to think when you are doing the right thing."

It's amazing to here words as such, from a person who worked in the very government that initiated the war and a country who has a strong sense of obedience & ultranationalism.

I guess , there are really different sides of truth and Chiune Sugiwara chose the righteous truth and indeed thousands have been saved and living in the truth he chose.

[ONLINE# 3] Super-glued Hereditary Politicians

'Kawaii' is one of the factors that makes J-popular culture hit foreign markets like virus. From cute stuffed animals, small cars, portable music players and virtual pets, Japan became the melting pot of popular culture and innovations. On the other hand, it is interesting to see how something unpopular is still bathing one’s self in the spotlight.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) or Jimintoushuu was born in 1955, a decade after Japan's surrender. Post-war not only devastated the country itself (after 2 bombings), it also burst the bubble of the militaristic Japanese ego. For a country starting from scratch bureaucrats indeed assisted to form and develop what is Japan at the present. A brilliant piece of the puzzle is the Yoshida Doctrine, by PM Yoshida. This policy took advantage of the "punishment"- Article 9 and concentrated on making Japan an economic super power. However, as decades passed, the LDP touch and magic seems declining.

Opposition in all aspects of society, ideology and philosophy is normal. This makes diversity possible. It is also a cycle that a popular ideology becomes unpopular and the latter becomes the former. Circle of life as they call it. But, keep in mind that this is Japan --absurdity of all sorts is very much possible and visible. And, the Liberal Democratic Party is one actor who glued one’s self for half a century in the same postion.

In the research made by the Department of Political Science in UCLA, I would agree that 3 factors is gluing LDP in their seats in the Diet and sub-government and kicking the opposing parties out of the scène. As mentioned in the video presentation, DPJ lacked quality candidates to go against LDP's long-standing bureaucrats and their successors. In this upcoming election, the supposed to be "hope" of DPJ Ichiro Ozawa tangled himself to a fund-raising scandal and resign his post. In replacement, another uncharismatic , "compassionate-love" raconteur Yukio Hatoyama. It seems that DPJ and LDP share the elite factions when it comes to their candidates. The only difference is DPJ candidates are visually newbies compared to LDP's poster boys of many generation.

Keep in mind that a half-century influence of LDP cannot be ignored easily. These bureaucrats, may be corrupt, are still considered as influential and mostly are incumbents. Connections or "Kone" is really a big factor in Japanese society (and politics). Although there were a good number of LDP politicians caught in web of scandals and corruption, "some" members still manage to save the face of the party.

Second factor of LDP's power is the "Kone" equals to Pipeline system. Although DPJ receives popularity and votes at national level, they are assassinated by LDP members at the sub national level. There are several prefectures in Japan that are stand-alone from the central government and a high number of Urban and rural prefectures that are still dependent on the central government. Pipeline system definitely works perfectly in latter scenario of the prefectures.

How is this connected to the Diet? Local voters most of the time prefer incumbents ,specially if they have improved their prefectures. Most of these incumbents are LDP members. In the video, LDP and DPJ seem to have a fair share when it comes to local politics. This is where the pipeline system works: a sub national politician will chose attach the local pipe he holds to the central pipe, to get the flow of resources easier and faster. A lower house LDP for a fellow upper house LDP. And, this affects the chances of DPJ to gain power and position in the Parliament.

The Pipeline system sort of reminded me by Philippine Politics. Pork barrels and project budgets are easily approved when you have connections and the sneaky corruptions will ( most of the time take place). Unless you have a hand in Malacanang, you receive the budget and the power to alter the finance documents. It's funny how the face of corruption remains the same for both 1st and 3rd world countries.

For the 3rd reason, I believe this is where absolute absurdity takes place. Both parties have vague platforms. In the experience of Professor Ethan Scheiner , that during his research, he was able to taste of what campaign in Japan is. Vague platforms are defined as safe issues like "good education", "environment" etc. Candidates do no specify their opinions and views on topics that needs to be tackled. Like the present DPJ leader Hatoyama, his "compassionate love" policy is definitely formless. Does he mean compassionate love for his people and act on economic policies to save them from a decade of frozen recession? or, compassion love for his country and revolutionize Japan's government. On the other hand, Japan is in a position where stating opinions of controversial issues is a big risk ( Article 9 ,the threat of North Korea , US bilateral relations and economic ties with other countries etc.)

Although the 3 reasons stated above defines how LDP still grasp in power, I would like to add a 4th reason: the Japanese voters. These voters needs to be more aggressive in wanting for change. With Politicians reciting vague platforms during campaign, I think that is enough reason to question their goals and purposes in the Diet and sub-national seats. I think that's one major reason why it's difficult to break the LDP RULE. Comparing the voter participation in politics, I believe Filipinos (especially the youth) is showing a lot of interest and sharing their opinions about the politicians and their platforms. This kind of active participation, I believe, warns the politicians in seat and running for position to be clear on their views and opinions.Is it because they don't know where and how to participate, or they just don't care?

It seems to me that Japan’s love for homogeneity doesn’t seem to apply in the ruling party anymore. LDP’s stagnant position in the Parliament for half-century may have saved them from the WWII. Now, it seems there’s a call for CHANGE in politics. CHANGE that is both needed, yet difficult to realize. Recently it seems that as DPJ promotes their realistic voices on foreign policy issues and gaining more supporters(solid support from Hokkaido) , LDP opts for fear to stay in power. In a recent interview, PM Aso mentioned that if DPJ, is not careful with their statements ( nuclear weapons, US FTA etc) it might affect the people. If DPJ wants to be the door for the NEW Japan, it would take tons of risk and active actions on local and global politics to destroy the line of hereditary politicians in LDP and return the power back to the voters’ hands. As Tobias Harris (Observing Japan) mentioned in his blog , along with Obama’s hands-off policy with Japan and DPJ’s views on recent issues, this might be a gaiatsu in a new perspective.

Maybe, there’s a light on DPJ to try and smash the shell and revolutionize Japan again.

Sources (besides the videos):

Students strive to lift turnout of young voters ahead of election ;

http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/students-strive-to-lift-turnout-of-young-voters-ahead-of-election

Tokyo Turnaround -Japan's vanishing opposition.

By Takashi Yokota | NEWSWEEK

Published Jun 27, 2009 http://www.newsweek.com/id/204317?tid=relatedcl

Waiting in the Wings

The DPJ is poised to win control of Japan, but its agenda is far from clear.

By David McNeill | NEWSWEEK

Published Mar 28, 2009

http://www.newsweek.com/id/191489?tid=relatedcl

Headless In Tokyo

By Christian Caryl | NEWSWEEK

Published Feb 28, 2009

http://www.newsweek.com/id/186965?tid=relatedcl

The End of Gridlock

By Bill Emmott | NEWSWEEK

Published Jan 10, 2009

http://www.newsweek.com/id/178813?tid=relatedcl

Observing Japan

Harris, Tobias

http://www.observingjapan.com/

Farewell to the Lady in Yellow

I hate politics, in general.

I had first hand experiences and informations on how dirty it works through my relatives who are active in the local political scene. I've been to the Manila City Jail when I was around 8 because of my lolo , who was imprisoned of fabricated bribery and fraud. On the other hand, politics is also inevitable. I would prefer to describe it (with sardonism) as fart --- it stinks. we hate it . but, it's there.

Most politicians ( in the Philippines) would opt for a higher position or be a bureaucrat. But, somehow, the late Lady in Yellow was different. After countless replays of videos and stories about her life, I realized that she is the IDEAL model of a politician. And, I felt the loss. She was indeed the very definition of what a true politician. After her post as a president, she returned to her original position - a private civilian. It's amazing to see how a person who came from an influential family and who held so much power in one's hands can return to her original self. Most are drunk with the incessant powers in their hands, during their term.

It's amazing how she was able to mix Church and State. I believe, only her can do that with sincerity. I hope after her burial, we still remember how she was both as a human and a leader.

A few Peso for my musings. :)

[ONLINE #1] Why have persistent efforts to revise Japan’s Constitution failed, thus far?

Japan--the descendants of the sun goddess, Amaterasu, is a country that was developed, modernized and is bound by contradictions in all aspects. One's eyes will feast on the modern architecture, technology and pop culture, while it dances together with it's old world made of temples, kimonos and shamisen.

However, in Japan what you see isn't always what you get--this applies in all aspects. We can insert the concept of honne and tatemae here. And, now the same situation puts Japan and her possible power in the global arena at fix.

Tracing Japan's psychology towards change from the Tokugawa Period until the Post-World War II, it seems that extreme options and changes had taken place:

500 year- bound to the code of Samurai => sudden modernization in Meiji restoration => Ubernationalism (WWII) => Absolute Pacifism in renouncing War

Notice that extreme changes, reformed Japan over the decades. US created a pacified Japan, by binding them in a single Article in the Japanese constitution to show the world, how the ultra-nationalists have transformed into a tamed sheep. Japan appreciated this sudden pacifism. For a country torn by war, she was able to rebuild herself, without worrying about the global security--as an abnormal state. Japan took advantage of this abnormality and concentrated on becoming an economic hegemon. But those days ended, when the heated Cold War has chilled down , Gulf War and recently,9/11.

Groupism- Japan has never experienced to be placed in a neutral situation. She was used to have an ally to rely on ( Germany during WWII and US during Post-war). Japan may not scream military influence and strong agendas in global politics, but she is under US' wings--this is not a neutral position. -This shows how Japan needs to be in a group, to be accepted. However, we should not forget the scars incised by JApan to her fellow Asian nations. These 2 factors are Japan's greatest dilemma, why change in constitution, although persistent, are of failures.

Internally, the old and New world may live in harmony in Japan, but politically, the old leaders (SDP) and new minds (LDP) live in argument whether change is needed or not. Some of the old leaders are still trapped in the ideal realm of pacifism that ,as long as Japan lives in harmony, change is not needed. But as mentioned previously, Japan is now on crossroads and placed where in 1 step of change is very critical. Is the revision really needed because the global situation calls for it and japan is at fix or a hidden goal or Honne lies beneath this "dilemma"?

These are possible reasons why efforts for metamorphose seems to be out of reach. The complexity of Japanese Mind + the complex situation of the Global Society and politics makes change a lot more difficult.

^-^ just a yen worth of musings over watermelon juice and cable tv.

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