Japan Votes 2017

[MERIZoC]

Sadly, a lot of people have voted, and if I were to do that, it would reset the poll as I learned when doing the Czechia thread.

why? They're just as right wing and jingoistic as the LDP. It's just a vanity project.

They seem moderately better than Abe and the LDP, and any change in Government would be welcome at this point to be honest. They're far from being good, but the absolute worst (and likeliest) result of this election is continued LDP rule.

Soooooo support the only party that can provide actual genuine opposition

[Collatis]

Which of Japan's allies are in danger of being attacked?

Japan is kinda ally of ROC and SK (its complicated, ww2 and all)

If the North invades South Korea then, believe me, a Japanese military would not be a deciding factor in the ensuing war.

[The of China]

Japan is kinda ally of ROC and SK (its complicated, ww2 and all)

If the North invades South Korea then, believe me, a Japanese military would not be a deciding factor in the ensuing war.

the US will be, japan still can help.

[Shrillland]

Sadly, a lot of people have voted, and if I were to do that, it would reset the poll as I learned when doing the Czechia thread.

why? They're just as right wing and jingoistic as the LDP. It's just a vanity project.

They seem moderately better than Abe and the LDP, and any change in Government would be welcome at this point to be honest. They're far from being good, but the absolute worst (and likeliest) result of this election is continued LDP rule.

As is the case most of the time. Something that no one watching these elections should overlook is that Japanese election campaigns are, by law, limited to just the final 12 days before the election, which doesn't give opposition parties much of a chance to explain themselves to the public.

[NERVUN]

how is a shrine honoring those who served for japan a bad thing?

That is the thing. Did bad things happen during WWII? Yes. But unless my ignorance is my own worst enemy here and that shrine was built specifically for WWII, the fact that Japan did some bad things in the past is no reason not to honour Japan's past when they weren't doing such things. Germany is the same way. Both Japan and Germany have a history beyond WWII and it bothers me that any pride in these countries is suddenly turned into Axis sympathy.

Here's the problem with Yasukuni.

The shrine was dedicated to people who died for Japan. Now, that might not be a bad thing in and of itself, but there's a lot of issues here.

One, Yasukuni believes heavily in a revisionist view of history. In the attached museum, Japan was innocent in WWII, Nanking never happened, Unit 731 never happened. America tricked Japan into bombing Pearl Harbor. And all Asian nations loved Japan and Japanese troops until the mean Americans made them not like Japan.

Two, Yasukuni has enshrined a number of people who... were not the best of people.

Three, Yasukuni has enshrined a number of people who would rather not have been enshrined, including a large number of Korean troops who were forced to fight for Japan during the colony period.

There's just a lot of really bad baggage that comes with the shrine that could be dealt with another way.

[Collatis]

Soooooo support the only party that can provide actual genuine opposition

Is this an imaginary party?

Seriously, every opposition party is polling in the single digits. I'm not sure how any of them could remotely provide genuine opposition, much less come close to taking away the LDP's super majority (which is required for Abe's constitutional reform).

[Collatis]

As is the case most of the time. Something that no one watching these elections should overlook is that Japanese election campaigns are, by law, limited to just the final 12 days before the election, which doesn't give opposition parties much of a chance to explain themselves to the public.

Which is why Abe just happened to call a snap election right when some legitimate opposition popped up.

Although, I must say, as someone who lives in a country with a near-two year campaign period, 12 days doesn't sound so bad

[NERVUN]

As is the case most of the time. Something that no one watching these elections should overlook is that Japanese election campaigns are, by law, limited to just the final 12 days before the election, which doesn't give opposition parties much of a chance to explain themselves to the public.

Which is why Abe just happened to call a snap election right when some legitimate opposition popped up.

Although, I must say, as someone who lives in a country with a near-two year campaign period, 12 days doesn't sound so bad

Until you run into the fricken sound trucks... then 12 days is too many!

[The Dragon Realms Empire]

That is the thing. Did bad things happen during WWII? Yes. But unless my ignorance is my own worst enemy here and that shrine was built specifically for WWII, the fact that Japan did some bad things in the past is no reason not to honour Japan's past when they weren't doing such things. Germany is the same way. Both Japan and Germany have a history beyond WWII and it bothers me that any pride in these countries is suddenly turned into Axis sympathy.

Here's the problem with Yasukuni.

The shrine was dedicated to people who died for Japan. Now, that might not be a bad thing in and of itself, but there's a lot of issues here.

One, Yasukuni believes heavily in a revisionist view of history. In the attached museum, Japan was innocent in WWII, Nanking never happened, Unit 731 never happened. America tricked Japan into bombing Pearl Harbor. And all Asian nations loved Japan and Japanese troops until the mean Americans made them not like Japan.

Two, Yasukuni has enshrined a number of people who... were not the best of people.

Three, Yasukuni has enshrined a number of people who would rather not have been enshrined, including a large number of Korean troops who were forced to fight for Japan during the colony period.

There's just a lot of really bad baggage that comes with the shrine that could be dealt with another way.

Ah I see. Those do seem to be problems, but I would hope that these are issues that can be resolved through reform (If not I can see why) because I would hate to see a piece of history (Even if it is only from the 1800s) to be lost because it was tainted.

Though I have mixed feelings on whether the Koreans should be honoured, on one hand, it is the least they can do since they forced them to fight but at the same time it also feels disrespectful at the same time.

[MERIZoC]

Which of Japan's allies are in danger of being attacked?

The way North Korea's acting, most of Japan's Eastern allies are under threat.

There's exactly zero reason to believe North Korea will instigate any conflict.

[NERVUN]

Here's the problem with Yasukuni.

The shrine was dedicated to people who died for Japan. Now, that might not be a bad thing in and of itself, but there's a lot of issues here.

One, Yasukuni believes heavily in a revisionist view of history. In the attached museum, Japan was innocent in WWII, Nanking never happened, Unit 731 never happened. America tricked Japan into bombing Pearl Harbor. And all Asian nations loved Japan and Japanese troops until the mean Americans made them not like Japan.

Two, Yasukuni has enshrined a number of people who... were not the best of people.

Three, Yasukuni has enshrined a number of people who would rather not have been enshrined, including a large number of Korean troops who were forced to fight for Japan during the colony period.

There's just a lot of really bad baggage that comes with the shrine that could be dealt with another way.

Ah I see. Those do seem to be problems, but I would hope that these are issues that can be resolved through reform (If not I can see why) because I would hate to see a piece of history (Even if it is only from the 1800s) to be lost because it was tainted.

Though I have mixed feelings on whether the Koreans should be honoured, on one hand, it is the least they can do since they forced them to fight but at the same time it also feels disrespectful at the same time.

See, the thing is... Even the JCP hasn't said it wants to tear down Yasukuni. What it wants is a nondenominational memorial built. One people can go to that doesn't have this history attached to it.

[The of China]

The way North Korea's acting, most of Japan's Eastern allies are under threat.

There's exactly zero reason to believe North Korea will instigate any conflict.

are you that sure?

[Collatis]

Which is why Abe just happened to call a snap election right when some legitimate opposition popped up.

Although, I must say, as someone who lives in a country with a near-two year campaign period, 12 days doesn't sound so bad

Until you run into the fricken sound trucks... then 12 days is too many!

Sound trucks in Japan are trucks equipped with public address systems used by political parties and candidates to express their views. The trucks have one or more loudspeakers which play a recorded message or recorded music as the truck tours through neighborhoods.

Many right-wing political groups drive around city streets in sound trucks, play nationalistic music at high volume and communicate their political views to the citizenry. They sometimes station themselves on a street, while one of the group's members addresses the public. The Japanese police tend to ignore them or allow them to operate freely, in the interest of free speech.

The right-wing sound trucks in Japan often disregard stop signs and stoplights, even on busy streets, and can have a negative effect on businesses when they regularly pass or station themselves in front.

Okay that sounds awful.

[Alizeria]

Definitely LDP. The more I read about Abe the more I like him. What he's doing with the economy is exactly the sort of stuff I'm into.

[Collatis]

Ah I see. Those do seem to be problems, but I would hope that these are issues that can be resolved through reform (If not I can see why) because I would hate to see a piece of history (Even if it is only from the 1800s) to be lost because it was tainted.

Though I have mixed feelings on whether the Koreans should be honoured, on one hand, it is the least they can do since they forced them to fight but at the same time it also feels disrespectful at the same time.

See, the thing is... Even the JCP hasn't said it wants to tear down Yasukuni. What it wants is a nondenominational memorial built. One people can go to that doesn't have this history attached to it.

That seems fairly reasonable. I would ask why anyone would oppose that, but Japanese politics is pretty fucked, so I'm not surprised.

[MERIZoC]

There's exactly zero reason to believe North Korea will instigate any conflict.

are you that sure?

Yes

[Outer Sparta]

The only thing "liberal" about the LDP is their stance on the economy. Otherwise, just a conservative party with nationalist tendencies. I guess I'd support them?

[Great Karoo]

Honestly? I'd like the Democrats and Maehara to win. I don't not like Abe though, and I wouldn't be mad if he won another term, which he probably will.

[Collatis]

The only thing "liberal" about the LDP is their stance on the economy. Otherwise, just a conservative party with nationalist tendencies. I guess I'd support them?

*wonders why someone who says they're a leftist in their sig would support the LDP*

[Outer Sparta]

The only thing "liberal" about the LDP is their stance on the economy. Otherwise, just a conservative party with nationalist tendencies. I guess I'd support them?

*wonders why someone who says they're a leftist in their sig would support the LDP*

Ehh, I just think they would get the nod. If I knew more about Japanese politics then I'd make a much more informed decision.

[Shrillland]

*wonders why someone who says they're a leftist in their sig would support the LDP*

Ehh, I just think they would get the nod. If I knew more about Japanese politics then I'd make a much more informed decision.

Well, the LDP currently is increasingly nationalist, particularly under Abe's direction, and they've been the party in power for nearly all of the postwar period. He's calling this election now that his popularity is back above 40%(in Japan, political scandals tend to come on a regular basis) thanks to North Korea's continued rhetoric, and he hopes that he can amend the constitution to allow Japan to create its own armed forces.

[The of Japan]

Ehh, I just think they would get the nod. If I knew more about Japanese politics then I'd make a much more informed decision.

Well, the LDP currently is increasingly nationalist, particularly under Abe's direction, and they've been the party in power for nearly all of the postwar period. He's calling this election now that his popularity is back above 40%(in Japan, political scandals tend to come on a regular basis) thanks to North Korea's continued rhetoric, and he hopes that he can amend the constitution to allow Japan to create its own armed forces.

how is wanting to help your allies in wartime nationalist?

[Shrillland]

Well, the LDP currently is increasingly nationalist, particularly under Abe's direction, and they've been the party in power for nearly all of the postwar period. He's calling this election now that his popularity is back above 40%(in Japan, political scandals tend to come on a regular basis) thanks to North Korea's continued rhetoric, and he hopes that he can amend the constitution to allow Japan to create its own armed forces.

how is wanting to help your allies in wartime nationalist?

I meant by modern Japanese standards. It is common sense to have an army and assist your allies in war. Nonetheless, I prefer the Democrats and their economic policies.

[Collatis]

Well, the LDP currently is increasingly nationalist, particularly under Abe's direction, and they've been the party in power for nearly all of the postwar period. He's calling this election now that his popularity is back above 40%(in Japan, political scandals tend to come on a regular basis) thanks to North Korea's continued rhetoric, and he hopes that he can amend the constitution to allow Japan to create its own armed forces.

how is wanting to help your allies in wartime nationalist?

When you've got 50k US military personnel hanging around your country, I question for what reason you would want a military other than nationalism

[The of Japan]

how is wanting to help your allies in wartime nationalist?

When you've got 50k US military personnel hanging around your country, I question why you would need a military for a reason other than nationalism

the Democrats also want to kick the US personnel as well as destroy Japan's military, and also, China could eventually eclipse US Navy