Comments on: Seijigiri #55: Hatoyama to head the DPJ and lots of election talk http://www.transpacificradio.com/2009/05/18/seijigiri-55-hatoyama-dpj-election/ Independent Podcasting from Tokyo. Featuring Seijigiri, a discussion of Japanese news and politics, as well as TPR News, our twice a week look at Japan's top stories. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:00:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Ken Worsley http://www.transpacificradio.com/2009/05/18/seijigiri-55-hatoyama-dpj-election/#comment-1911530 Fri, 29 May 2009 02:31:00 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2009/05/18/seijigiri-55-hatoyama-dpj-election/#comment-1911530 More on this pointless debate in the next edition of Seijigiri: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/southkorea/090527/time-encourage-japan-and-south-korea-go-nuclear" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Opinion: Time to encourage Japan and South Korea to go nuclear?</a> More on this pointless debate in the next edition of Seijigiri: Opinion: Time to encourage Japan and South Korea to go nuclear?

]]> by: Ken http://www.transpacificradio.com/2009/05/18/seijigiri-55-hatoyama-dpj-election/#comment-1907551 Mon, 25 May 2009 02:20:46 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2009/05/18/seijigiri-55-hatoyama-dpj-election/#comment-1907551 As if on cue, I opened the Japan Times this morning to find a reprint of the AFP article on the supposed "surge" of the Japan Communist Party. JT doesn't seem to have it online, but MSN does: <a href="http://news.id.msn.com/lifestyle/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3305774" rel="nofollow">Communist party gains as Japan economy sinks</a> The article makes a claim I've seen elsewhere: "[D]isaffection with mainstream political parties and labour unions has seen its membership surge by 1,000 people a month." This could be true. But, is a rise of 1,000 people a month above replacement level of those members leaving the party and/or dying? Does this refer to the number of new members or net gain? It will be interesting to see how the party fares in this year's election. As if on cue, I opened the Japan Times this morning to find a reprint of the AFP article on the supposed “surge” of the Japan Communist Party. JT doesn’t seem to have it online, but MSN does: Communist party gains as Japan economy sinks

The article makes a claim I’ve seen elsewhere: “[D]isaffection with mainstream political parties and labour unions has seen its membership surge by 1,000 people a month.”

This could be true. But, is a rise of 1,000 people a month above replacement level of those members leaving the party and/or dying? Does this refer to the number of new members or net gain?

It will be interesting to see how the party fares in this year’s election.

]]> by: Ken Worsley http://www.transpacificradio.com/2009/05/18/seijigiri-55-hatoyama-dpj-election/#comment-1906636 Sun, 24 May 2009 03:23:04 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2009/05/18/seijigiri-55-hatoyama-dpj-election/#comment-1906636 Thanks OMIA. I was just talking to someone last night about the Aso victory scenario. It really couldn't happen to a less deserving person. Thanks OMIA. I was just talking to someone last night about the Aso victory scenario. It really couldn’t happen to a less deserving person.

]]> by: Our Man in Abiko http://www.transpacificradio.com/2009/05/18/seijigiri-55-hatoyama-dpj-election/#comment-1905750 Sat, 23 May 2009 12:08:45 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2009/05/18/seijigiri-55-hatoyama-dpj-election/#comment-1905750 Just got round to listening to this one. Very good. Our Man especially liked the rant. What seemed impossible six months ago - an Aso victory - seems, if not likely, at least feasible. Would Our Man be mad to call the election for Aso and the forces of evil? Just got round to listening to this one. Very good. Our Man especially liked the rant. What seemed impossible six months ago - an Aso victory - seems, if not likely, at least feasible. Would Our Man be mad to call the election for Aso and the forces of evil?

]]> by: Ken Worsley http://www.transpacificradio.com/2009/05/18/seijigiri-55-hatoyama-dpj-election/#comment-1903000 Wed, 20 May 2009 18:05:31 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2009/05/18/seijigiri-55-hatoyama-dpj-election/#comment-1903000 Whatever happened to the Hatoyama izakaya in Shimbash? Whatever happened to the Hatoyama izakaya in Shimbash?

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