Change

what are prospects for political reform in japan?

According to Pearl Bailey, "you must change in order to survive." For me, this is true even for a country like Japan. Though Japan has been known for maintaining what tradition is, the Japanese themselves feel the need for a political reform. According to Noriko Hama "we are getting to a point where the Japanese voters, the people are simply so fed up with the LDP ways of doing things, of conducting politics. ...indeed they are very much calling for that regime change." Because of this chances are, change would be made in the future. As Pauline R.Kezer said, "Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights."

Change would only be possible when the people involve would want it. For the past few years in, different prime ministers would have different programs. Many of them would have wanted change but most of the time it didn't happen the way they wanted to. Despite their knowledge that different situations call for different solutions, they were't able to make a reform that is accepted by everyone. There is a need to look at the priorities in these reforms. What may be seen important by the Prime Minister might not be for others. In order to be supported by the people, there is a need to make changes the people want. Aside from that, Hiro Katsumata adds that problem does not lie within the policy itself. Rather, it is due to the credibility of the people in power and to the people who works with them; "...the issue of personnel, not the issue of policy." In any case "Change is inevitable in a progressive society. Change is constant" as Benjamin Disraeli said.

"Change does not change tradition. It strengthens it. Change is a challenge and an opportunity, not a threat.- Prince Phillip of England

LDP: Continuing Dominance

There are many factors which have contributed to the LDP's ability to retain power

The problem was there was no oppostion worthy to challenge the LDP. The opposition has an inflexibility of the political opposition in the face of change. The opposition draws its support from interest groups. It has coordination problems as there are different groups within the opposition fighting for dominance and choice positions. Candidates lacks quality as the people are seriously questioning their sincerity.

Here are some explanation to why LDP reigned for so long:

The LDP had drawn support from a wide cross-section of the population. It is responsive to entities from certain segments such as the farming community, ex-service men, construction firms, small and medium-sized manufacturers, small retailers and the medical fraternity.

With regards to it's relations with the industry, the LDP has consistently maintained a strong oro-industry postion, standing ready to meets it's requirements provided that the interests of its other protogees are not adversely affected.

The LDP has the ability to keep track on changes happening economically and socially, and was able to adjust their policies.It can make use of sources at its command,the common resource notably is the governments budget and pork barrels. It used the governments money to reward its supporters, to cultivate new support, and to reorder the government's policies priorities.

The LDP's decision-making is based on pragmatic considerations that are in keeping with changing circumstances and public attitudes.To some extent, it was also responsible in restoring/uplifting the economy. It manages to make the right policies and makes it applicable.
With regards to their candidates, the LDP has been successful in fielding the right candidate to ensure their wiinnability which they all support.

Failure of the revision of the Japanese constitution

There are many factors which led to it's failure.

There is difficulty regarding the amendment process. According to article 96 amendments can be made through any part of the constitution. However it must be approved by at least two- thirds of the members of both houses of the National Diet. After which it must be submitted to a referendum. An amendment is successful when it is promulgated by the emperor.

Even the Japanese are divided themselves with regards with the issue of revising the constitution. Some wants to push for the revision of the constitution while others are interested in maintaining the peace constitution. This is probably because in revising the constitution a lot of other issues are going to be tackled there. On the other hand, many would also like to keep the traditional way of things. Shifting to change is very difficult especially for the Japanese (looking back at their history).

Aside from the Japanese, other organizations as well as other countries are divided regarding this issue especially article 9 which bans Japan from going into war. There will be different responses from the different countries and organizations if ever Japan's constitution would be revised. This could also affect the relationship between Japan and the other countries.

Rashomon and the Taishô Period

Rashomon is a film directed by Akira Kurosawa which was based on Ryunosuke Akutagawa's short story In a Grove. In a Grove is considered as one of the greatest story in Japanese literature. The story talks about the death of a samurai and it consists of several testimonies by witnesses including the samurai himself. While reading these testimonies one would notice how they contradict each others statement. This leaves us with the question regarding "truth". What makes the statements "true". Is the "truth" was what they had seen or is it how they interpreted what they had saw? What makes the testimonies credible. The possibility of manipulating the "truth" lies within how they want to perceive a certain kind of truth. Sometimes it also depends on the person who is telling the "truth" whether it is credible or simply acceptable. In order to understand the story, there is a need to look at the background of the author.

Ryūnosuke Akutagawa was a Japanese writer active in Taishō period of Japan. He is considered as the "Father of the Japanese short story". He is also noted for his detailed stories that explore the darker side of human nature. This is probably because of the way of how his life had led.

The Taishō period was during the reign of the Taishō emperor. When the health of the emperor became weak, this prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group of elder statesmen to the Diet of Japan and the democratic parties. This era is considered the time of the liberal movement known as the "Taishō democracy" in Japan. You can read more about this here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=XyxVDuo84R4C&pg=PR5&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=0_1#PPA1,M1
http://books.google.com/books?id=CAEl8uryKK0C&pg=PR9&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=0_1#PPA27,M1
http://books.google.com/books?id=M6-2y4LlMW8C&pg=PR7&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=0_1#PPA3,M1
http://books.google.com/books?id=0IxTMRmBB50C&printsec=frontcover#PPR7,M1

According to japansociety.org, "Taishô is often is shorthand in discussions of Japanese culture and history for a period of democracy and flourishing popular culture that began in the 1910s and lasted until around 1930. And that during this era, after the Meiji reforms and before military factions began to exert heavy power over politics and culture, political parties had the balance of power, and mass audience magazines, recorded music, and films propelled a cultural exuberance... What differed in the Taisho period was a sense of "contemporaneity," that is, a sense that Japanese writers could be at the forefront of the latest developments in the literature and culture of the world. Akutagawa Ryunosuke, whose story "In a Grove"... was among the greatest of Taishô modernists." "Taishô period modernist literature was consciously part of a more global modernist literary movement, and included numerous experimental styles and almost revolutionary themes common to modernist literature."

Why do we need to compare politics? Why study Japan politics?

Somewhere I have heard that if you make a mistake, you can just charge it to experience. However if you make a mistake twice, it is stupidity. This is why it is important to study the past and compare politics. Comparing politics is beneficial in numerous ways. Studying politics of a country can give you an overview of how a country is ran, what the events occurred that gave way to change (past politics to present politics,) and what political strategies worked in improving the country and more importantly, which ones failed and why. Analysis of this added to the study of each country's characteristics will help predict ways to make things work for the country.

Since I am young, I am inexperienced and naive with regards to providing solutions to our country's problems. However, seeing the country unable to move forward because of politics, global economic recession, and even individual indifference makes me want to contribute to make a change. I haven't given up hope for the country and I think that through learning more regarding international studies will help young people like me understand what it takes to help move a country forward. I've always been fascinated on how Japan was able to become successful despite their standing after World War II. They were able to cope with their loss and devastation brought about the bombing of two of their cities and became one of the great powers in our time. Japan has often taken risks to study more about the different kinds of industries from car manufacturing to wine and perfume making,and trying to be the better than who they were learning it from. Taking a closer look at Japan, the culture and politics can give us ideas to how they were able to do so. At present even other Asian countries are improving, but still the Philippines remains the same. I think that in studying and comparing other countries and their politics which is similar and applicable to the Philippines might be able to help our country catch up with the other countries. Also by looking at the past of other countries and how they improve, it can be a stepping stone for the Philippines.