Oguma Eiji, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University What is “liberal”? Even in Europe and America, there is no agreed-upon definition. In terms of economic and social policies, it is sometimes used in Western Europe to mean “laissez-faire,” but in the United States it is also used to mean large government spending.[1] “Liberal” has different meanings depending on the history and political context of the country. So what is “liberal” in postwar Japan? How does it relate to security policy, which has been the main axis of conflict in Japanese party politics from the postwar period to the present, and to pacifism, which was enshrined in the postwar constitution? This paper examines these two questions against the historical background of postwar Japan. This paper has four parts. First, I will review the historical evolution of the term “liberal” in Japanese political coverage. Second, ... ... [Read more]

  Key points Elections are manipulated to stay in power in authoritarian countries Political division and growing electoral fraud also in democratic countries Administrations calling snap general elections when it suits them should also be scrutinized   Higashijima Masaaki, Associate Professor, University of Tokyo   This year, 2024 is a year with elections around the world. In addition to the United States and Russia, which have a major influence on international politics, national elections are also planned in regional powers such as Indonesia, India, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, and other neighboring countries and regions. Depending on the ongoing political funding issue, a dissolution of the Lower House and a general election may also be on the horizon in Japan. Elections have long been synonymous with representative democracy. What are the implications of the upcoming elections in so many countries for the future of the ... ... [Read more]

  Shimizu Yuichiro, Professor, Keio University Factional politics have once again become an issue. It was discovered that the largest faction, the Abe faction (Seiwa Political Analysis Council, Seiwakai), has engaged in fraudulent accounting with regard to political funding to the party. Moreover, it was found that the Nikai faction (Shisuikai), led by shrewd former secretary-general Nikai Toshihiro, and the Kishida faction (Kochikai), to which the current prime minister belongs, have had similar problems. The revelations have prompted strong criticism of factional politics. In response, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio quickly announced that he would dissolve his faction, Kochikai. Kochikai was founded by Ikeda Hayato (1899–1965), known for his Income Doubling Plan. As it inherits the lineage of Yoshida Shigeru’s (1878–1967) Liberal Party, it considers itself part of the “conservative mainstream” and is the third faction, which has produced five prime ministers as well as ... ... [Read more]

  The percentage of female Diet members in Japan is 10.0% in the Lower House and 26.0% in the Upper House. The figures for the Lower House are particularly low, ranking 165th out of 190 countries in the world (all figures are from the Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office, April 11, FY2023). What does it show that there are still fewer women? We will take a closer look at the current situation where people are loudly calling for the elimination of the gender gap, and expose the real problems.   Miura Mari, Professor, Sophia University How do we view the gender gap in politics? Various reports and indicators indicate that Japan has a large gender gap, so there is no need to explain it again. The political realm plays an important role in bridging this gap. The Diet creates laws and allocates budgets, and ... ... [Read more]

  On August 24, 2023, Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) treated water was released from the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, sparking a huge debate both domestically and internationally. A particular focus was on how to respond to China’s tough stance. However, the series of treated water releases exposed many problems in Japanese politics, society, and discourse. An international politics expert familiar with economic security and a sociologist who continues to study the Fukushima issue discuss Japan’s challenges and blind spots.   Suzuki Kazuto (Professor, Tokyo University Graduate School of Public Policy) vs Kainuma Hiroshi (Associate Professor, Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, The University of Tokyo) Discourse surrounding treated water that felt very strange Kainuma Hiroshi: I have known Professor Suzuki for about 10 years since I worked with him as a member of ... ... [Read more]

  Even though the Kishida Fumio administration’s approval rating is declining, support for the opposition parties remains flat. Consider a “narrow path” for opposition parties to emerge as an alternative that poses a threat to the Liberal Democratic Party.   Yamamoto Kentaro, Professor, Hokkai-Gakuen University Support for opposition parties remains flat It has been a long time since the current administration’s approval rating has declined while the opposition party’s approval rating has not increased. If opposition parties are seen as having a certain degree of credibility, support for the ruling party should be inversely proportional to support for the opposition parties. However, even though various opinion polls show that the Kishida Fumio administration’s approval rating is on the decline, support for the ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), remains high and stable, and support for the opposition parties remains flat. Recently, the approval ... ... [Read more]

  Zenkyo Masahiro (Professor of Kwansei Gakuin University) vs Machidori Satoshi (Professor of Kyoto University) Going beyond the “political party of Osaka” ――The opposition Japan Innovation Party (JIP) has grown in the 2022 Upper House election and the 2023 unified local elections. Meanwhile, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lost the by-election for Wakayama Constituency No. 1 in the lower house and the Nara Prefectural gubernatorial election. Other opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), are also stagnant. How do you analyze the current political situation and the reasons for the JIP’s growth?   Machidori Satoshi: I have come to see commentaries that the current political situation is a “neo 1955 System” similar to the former “1955 System[1]” where the LDP dominant-party system continued. However, despite the superficial resemblance, I believe that the current LDP is not as strong as before ... ... [Read more]

  Yoshihiro Kensuke, Professor, Momoyama Gakuin University   What is Osaka Ishin’s fiscal management? In the nationwide local elections held on April 9, 2023, Yoshimura Hirofumi and Yokoyama Hideyuki of the Osaka Restoration Association (Osaka Ishin no kai, hereinafter Osaka Ishin) were elected as Osaka Governor and Osaka Mayor, respectively. For 12 consecutive years since 2011, the heads of Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City have been chosen from Osaka Ishin. Moreover, in the Nara Prefectural gubernatorial election, Yamashita Makoto, an official candidate of Osaka Ishin, became the first to be elected in an election outside of Osaka Prefecture, revealing that support for Osaka Ishin has spread in the Kinki region.[i] Osaka Ishin held two referendums in 2015 and 2020 to gauge support for the Osaka Metropolis Plan. Both referendums were narrowly voted down, signaling the end of what has been a hallmark policy for ... ... [Read more]

  Kohno Masaru (Professor, Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University) and Washio Takumi (19th-class student of the Kohno Masaru Seminar, School of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University)   “Online campaigns” became allowed in 2013, but how has politicians’ use of social networking services affected elections? If politicians can communicate effectively with voters through social networking services, it will lead to a healthy development of democracy. The relationship between use of social media and vote share Since the 2013 amendment of the Public Offices Election Law to allow “online campaigns,” many politicians in Japan have, belatedly, begun to utilize social networking services (hereinafter “social media”) for electoral purposes. But no study has yet to show clearly whether and how social media benefit politicians in important elections at the national level. As such, we have surveyed the activities of politicians who ran as candidates ... ... [Read more]

  Shimada-Logie Hiroko, Professor, School of Government, Kyoto University   In many countries since the 19th century, success stories have been sought from other countries whenever dissatisfaction with their own bureaucracy grows. During the Heisei reforms of the civil service system in Japan, which ended in the centralization of executive personnel affairs, there were frequent references to models in other countries to be emulated, like “In the United States, you can come and go freely through the revolving door between the public and private sectors” and “Politicians can freely replace executive bureaucrats in Germany and France.” However, if we are to design a bureaucracy that functions in our society, it is necessary, before importing pieces from other countries, to delve into questions like “What role do we want bureaucrats to play in relation to politics?” and “Can we secure the desired human resources in ... ... [Read more]