Why Japan needs to change!

" Why Japan needs to change! " You know, this is the

kind of headline you find in the press here in Japan,

like a perpetual mantra type improvement - "kaizen"

orientated kind of slogan for a society looking for

its "Way" out of its isolation in the Pacific ocean

immensity.

Japan relegated as a minor player in Asia, as a no

voiced heard in the world thanks to its imposing

protector the Usa and in the shadow of 2 neighboring

giants that are China and Russia has apparently

decided "to say no" after... 54 years of genuflection

and self indulgence.

Where to?

Sunday August 30th is the day when it might happen! A

peaceful transfer of power in a quasi politically

fossilized Japanese archipelago with no views on its

own future, no hopes for its citizen rights or no

clear knowledge of its geographical boundaries.

Japanese electorate seems to have decided that there

is a need for political change in a nation that has

been controlled by the conservative LDP, a US post

World War II sponsored party, for all but around a

year since its creation in 1955. The irony is that

both contenders Aso and Hatoyama are both heirs of

political family dynasty which created the post-war

"Japan economical miracle" thanks to Wall Street and

the Pentagone.

And then Obama momentum came...

Back to the future scenario? No, Hatoyama team has

lots of power makers that won't let themselves pulled

by exaggerated "Gaiatsu" (foreign pressure) as we saw

with the recent secret nuclear deal suddenly thrown in

the campaign debate.

It also transpires that no fundamental changes will

come from the new policy and that business as usual is

to be the best posture in dealing with Japan new

administration.

What is the Japan perception of a Foreign

Correspondent living and working in Japan since the

Heisei era started? Here are my views published in

the "Asahi Shimbun" August 27th.

The Asahi is the second biggest daily newspaper in

Japan with a circulation of over 11 million and is the

Japanese equivalent of France daily Le Monde or Le

Temps in Switzerland.

✍ Click the picture to read the article.

Astonish me, Monsieur Hatoyama!

Yukio Hatoyama, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)

Yukio Hatoyama leads the Democratic Party of Japan

favored to win the Japanese general election August

30th. This is quoted from Voice, September issue.

Politics

"How can we put an end to unrestrained market

fundamentalism and financial capitalism, that are void

of morals or moderation, in order to protect the

finances and livelihoods of our citizens? That is the

issue we are now facing. In these times, we must

return to the idea of fraternity — as in the French

slogan “liberté, égalité, fraternité” — as a force for

moderating the danger inherent within freedom..."

"... Our responsibility as politicians is to refocus

our attention on those non-economic values that have

been thrown aside by the march of globalism. We must

work on policies that regenerate the ties that bring

people together, that take greater account of nature

and the environment, that rebuild welfare and medical

systems, that provide better education and

child-rearing support, and that address wealth

disparities."

Economy

"The economic order in any country is built up over

long years and reflects the influence of traditions,

habits and national lifestyles. But globalism has

progressed without any regard for non-economic values,

or for environmental issues or problems of resource

restriction.

If we look back on the changes in Japanese society

since the end of the Cold War, I believe it is no

exaggeration to say that the global economy has

damaged traditional economic activities and destroyed

local communities.

In terms of market theory, people are simply personnel

expenses. But in the real world people support the

fabric of the local community and are the physical

embodiment of its lifestyle, traditions and culture.

An individual gains respect as a person by acquiring a

job and a role within the local community and being

able to maintain his family’s livelihood.

Under the principle of fraternity, we would not

implement policies that leave areas relating to human

lives and safety — such as agriculture, the

environment and medicine — to the mercy of globalism."

Asia

"I believe that the East Asian region, which is

showing increasing vitality, must be recognized as

Japan’s basic sphere of being. So we must continue to

build frameworks for stable economic cooperation and

security across the region...

... ASEAN, Japan, China (including Hong Kong), South

Korea and Taiwan now account for one quarter of the

world’s gross domestic product. The economic power of

the East Asian region and the interdependent

relationships within the region have grown wider and

deeper. So the structures required for the formation

of a regional economic bloc are already in place.

On the other hand, due to historical and cultural

conflicts as well as conflicting national security

interests, we must recognize that there are numerous

difficult political issues. The problems of increased

militarization and territorial disputes cannot be

resolved by bilateral negotiations between, for

example, Japan and South Korea, or Japan and China.

The more these problems are discussed bilaterally, the

greater the risk that emotions become inflamed and

nationalism intensified.

Therefore, I would suggest, somewhat paradoxically,

that the issues that stand in the way of regional

integration can only be truly resolved by moving

toward greater integration. The experience of the

E.U. shows us how regional integration can defuse

territorial disputes...

... I believe that regional integration and

collective security is the path we should follow

toward realizing the principles of pacifism and

multilateral cooperation advocated by the Japanese

Constitution. It is also the appropriate path for

protecting Japan’s political and economic independence

and pursuing our interests in our position between the

United States and China." End of quotes.