Comment by Steve

February 5, 2010 @ 5:20 am

Great podcast guys, as usual. I enjoy listening to your talks on Japanese politics as I’m currently doing an MA in Asian politics.

I’d like to pick Ken up on one thing he said though- that the LDP don’t grasp the concept of democratic governance, that at least the victory of the DPJ has resulted in an alternation of power, and that “there needs to be a certain back and forth”. While I’m as big a fan of the DPJ as any (well, compared to the LDP), I don’t accept that countries have to follow the Western liberal version of democracy to be ‘democratic’ per se. That is, while alternation of power is common in the West, that does not mean it SHOULD necessarily occur (or indeed be ‘encouraged’ to occur) in non-Western societies.

Anyway, great podcast! Oh, and out of interest, what do you guys actually do in Japan?

Comment by theanphibian

February 6, 2010 @ 12:39 am

Great post! I remember your coverage being strong up through the big election, but it has been rather silent since then and my awareness of the issues has also lulled during this time.

Nonetheless, I’ve been excited for Japan as a whole since they seem to have embarked on major political change, which I hope will allow them to move forward and better define their identity and allow them to achieve growth. But your posts are always sobering. The new boss has a lot of the same problems as the old boss.

It’s good to hear informed commentary again. Welcome back!

Comment by Garrett DeOrio

February 8, 2010 @ 3:32 pm

Steve, I have to step in here and protect Ken, at least insofar as I’m pretty sure you’re objecting to something I said, not that Ken said.

I would agree with you that Western democracy is not the only way to go and still have democracy, but I would disagree that there is some different path that Japan has found. As you well know, Japanese democracy was set up to operate under explicitly Western rules and that has not changed much over the past 120 years or so.

That aside, there was a time when many observers said that the factions within the LDP operated somewhat in the manner of political party, thus making the Diet’s lack of a viable opposition OK.

Needless to say, I disagree with that view. When working relatively well, a system involving multiple parties brings, in order of increasing difficulty: different people, different policies, and a different political culture.

Japan long lacked all three. There was a hint towards the first of the three differences when LDP factions alternated power, but the most difficult - the culture - was untouched for decades. The LDP, throughout its entire existence has been based on and has operated upon an extensive system of cronyism and patronage. It has, throughout its existence, equated its own benefit as being the benefit of Japan. So when a highway was placed on the side of a mountain in Shikoku although there was no demand and not even adequate access to the fantastical six-laner in a rural area, the jobs that resulted, the money that went to contractors, the money they then paid to the LDP, and the votes the LDP secured meant that the boondoggle was good for Japan.

The DPJ is now pursuing its own priorities and placing its priorities above those of the LDP. That the LDP is now excoriating the DPJ for doing a much milder version of what the LDP did as recently as last year, in terms of parliamentary procedure, shows at least that the LDP thinks the people of Japan are stupid enough not to see through it, that the LDP thinks the people of Japan are stupid enough to want the old way back, and, most important, that the LDP still does not quite grasp the fact that the power structure has changed.

The DPJ has made a hash of things so far, but it’ll be a while before the LDP can change.

My fear is that, without a back and forth, it is only a matter of time before the DPJ just becomes the LDP.

Comment by Garrett DeOrio

February 8, 2010 @ 3:50 pm

TheAnphibian, we’re you’ve stuck around.

Steve, in answer to your last question, I’ll first say that both Ken and I are gainfully employed in positions we like and that our agreement to keep our employers’ names out of our extracurricular activities means that what we do here doesn’t interfere with our day jobs. I can say that I teach at a university in Tokyo and don’t want to say much more than that. I’ll leave what Ken divulges to Ken.

As it became a point of confusion after the election, though, I will state clearly that neither one of us works for the DPJ or any of its members. (I got a lot of e-mails in early September asking for things and offering criticisms that made it clear the authors thought I not only worked for the DPJ but had influence - I don’t and I don’t. I once had a brief chat with Akira Nagatsuma, but that’s about it. By that measure, I’m a Hall of Famer because I met and talked to Joe DiMaggio three times and had Walter Payton make fun of me, in a nice way.)

Comment by Ken Worsley

February 9, 2010 @ 2:29 pm

I don’t accept that countries have to follow the Western liberal version of democracy to be ‘democratic’ per se. That is, while alternation of power is common in the West, that does not mean it SHOULD necessarily occur (or indeed be ‘encouraged’ to occur) in non-Western societies.

So long as there is a fair and functioning democratic process, that makes sense. Punishing a party by voting them out of power when they haven’t served well is part of that process.

Comment by mary sayre

February 26, 2010 @ 8:28 am

So glad you are back with your commentariess. Didn’t really rmember that you are having the same problems we are over here. We are kindof wondering why we fussing about gays in the military when our txes are going up and our jobs are not working out and Wall Street is still under achieving etc. I guess the health bill is really causiong so much trouble. Just read a book by retired senator Danforth who says nothing will ever be done because of the bitter partisonship in all negotiations. The southern conservatives are not able to adjust any of their thinking on abortion, stem cell research, taxes and church and state and anything -they have their ideas and won’t change for anything. Course the ultra liberals won’t either so we sit here.

Comment by Steve

March 11, 2010 @ 7:22 am

Hey guys,

Thanks for your replies Garrett and Ken. Garrett, both of your points make a lot of sense- both on the democracy issue, and on the extracurricular activities vs day job thing! I only asked because personally I was looking for future opportunities in Tokyo that wouldn’t involve either sales or ESL- I don’t have the desire to do the first, and spent 3 years doing the latter before my MA.

Thanks again!

Comment by mary sayre

March 30, 2010 @ 3:05 am

Of course I was listening to you-and I just read abook about the Grahams and the Washington Post and how influencial it was back in the 50 and 60’s. Un-fortunately I found the establishment left much to be desired as did most of the politics of that time. However I think the time of newspapers having much to do with anything anymore except for my cartoons and crossword puzzles is past. Good to hear you guys and am still waiting to hear about the whales.