Japanese Politics Thread

[Sanghyeok]

Also it's harder for anyone to pursue a relationship or spend time with a family when they're constantly working overtime or doing work related activities. Abe did cap overtime at 100 hours a month, which is a start but almost certainly not enough.

Compare that to South Korea, which is quickly adapting to a system that needs a better work-life balance.

South Korean system is also not sustainable, although I am glad there are more reforms. They also need more childcare and child leave.

[Duvniask]

Finally!

Maybe Japan can get a more leftist government for once. I doubt it as the liberal democrats have most of the seats in the senate, but there is at least hope that their grip on Japan will be shook a bit!

Japan's opposition is in shambles, and has never managed to get itself together. Even in the brief window that the Democratic Party of Japan came to power from 2009-2012, they constantly changed prime ministers and barely had any legislative accomplishments (admittedly, this was made worse by the 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake and Fukushima Daiichi disaster). The party itself was an incoherent mess, made up of disgruntled former LDP members, liberals and people from the old Japan Socialist Party. They only united in their opposition to the LDP and once they got into power they didn't really have the strength to challenge the entrenched bureaucracy or move the country forward.

All this nonsense is made worse by the horrendous electoral system which has some of the worst malapportionment in the entire world, with the LDP winning a third of the vote but gaining super-majorities in both chambers of the Diet, which has effectively reduced Japan to a one-party state.

[New Jewlan]

Yay Japan!

[San Lumen]

Finally!

Maybe Japan can get a more leftist government for once. I doubt it as the liberal democrats have most of the seats in the senate, but there is at least hope that their grip on Japan will be shook a bit!

Japan's opposition is in shambles, and has never managed to get itself together. Even in the brief window that the Democratic Party of Japan came to power from 2009-2012, they constantly changed prime ministers and barely had any legislative accomplishments (admittedly, this was made worse by the 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake and Fukushima Daiichi disaster). The party itself was an incoherent mess, made up of disgruntled former LDP members, liberals and people from the old Japan Socialist Party. They only united in their opposition to the LDP and once they got into power they didn't really have the strength to challenge the entrenched bureaucracy or move the country forward.

All this nonsense is made worse by the horrendous electoral system which has some of the worst malapportionment in the entire world, with the LDP winning a third of the vote but gaining super-majorities in both chambers of the Diet, which has effectively reduced Japan to a one-party state.

Their electoral system needs an overall. That’s totally unfair to get a third of the vote but gain a supermajority

[Duvniask]

Japan's opposition is in shambles, and has never managed to get itself together. Even in the brief window that the Democratic Party of Japan came to power from 2009-2012, they constantly changed prime ministers and barely had any legislative accomplishments (admittedly, this was made worse by the 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake and Fukushima Daiichi disaster). The party itself was an incoherent mess, made up of disgruntled former LDP members, liberals and people from the old Japan Socialist Party. They only united in their opposition to the LDP and once they got into power they didn't really have the strength to challenge the entrenched bureaucracy or move the country forward.

All this nonsense is made worse by the horrendous electoral system which has some of the worst malapportionment in the entire world, with the LDP winning a third of the vote but gaining super-majorities in both chambers of the Diet, which has effectively reduced Japan to a one-party state.

Their electoral system needs an overall. That’s totally unfair to get a third of the vote but gain a supermajority

Legally it is in limbo. The Supreme Court of Japan has repeatedly stated the past election results to be "in a state of unconstitutionality", but they never claim the results to be null and void, only making toothless requests that the government (which, of course came to power via this flawed system and has every incentive to drag their feet) do something to reduce the malapportionment.

[Kubra]

Japan's opposition is in shambles, and has never managed to get itself together. Even in the brief window that the Democratic Party of Japan came to power from 2009-2012, they constantly changed prime ministers and barely had any legislative accomplishments (admittedly, this was made worse by the 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake and Fukushima Daiichi disaster). The party itself was an incoherent mess, made up of disgruntled former LDP members, liberals and people from the old Japan Socialist Party. They only united in their opposition to the LDP and once they got into power they didn't really have the strength to challenge the entrenched bureaucracy or move the country forward.

All this nonsense is made worse by the horrendous electoral system which has some of the worst malapportionment in the entire world, with the LDP winning a third of the vote but gaining super-majorities in both chambers of the Diet, which has effectively reduced Japan to a one-party state.

Their electoral system needs an overall. That’s totally unfair to get a third of the vote but gain a supermajority

It ain't gonna happen. The reliability of seats for the LDP means they can hand them to pre-appointed successors safely, sometimes from parent to child. That lot *hella* don't want to rock the boat when it comes to the electoral system.

[Region of Dwipantara]

Compare that to South Korea, which is quickly adapting to a system that needs a better work-life balance.

South Korean system is also not sustainable, although I am glad there are more reforms. They also need more childcare and child leave.

Could maids fix the childcare problem? Just import a hella maids from Southeast Asia, like the Arabs already did.

[San Lumen]

Their electoral system needs an overall. That’s totally unfair to get a third of the vote but gain a supermajority

It ain't gonna happen. The reliability of seats for the LDP means they can hand them to pre-appointed successors safely, sometimes from parent to child. That lot *hella* don't want to rock the boat when it comes to the electoral system.

And the people seem content with it

[Kubra]

It ain't gonna happen. The reliability of seats for the LDP means they can hand them to pre-appointed successors safely, sometimes from parent to child. That lot *hella* don't want to rock the boat when it comes to the electoral system.

And the people seem content with it

It's not that they're content, they just largely don't give a shit. I wouldn't either if I had their work hours, giving a shit requires one to take a moment to collect shit to give.

[Duvniask]

It ain't gonna happen. The reliability of seats for the LDP means they can hand them to pre-appointed successors safely, sometimes from parent to child. That lot *hella* don't want to rock the boat when it comes to the electoral system.

And the people seem content with it

Japanese people are incredibly distrustful of politicians. No wonder there's widespread apathy, given they're faced with a corrupt, impotent system of graft and waste that never seems to go anywhere and just keeps squeezing more money out of the common folk for the benefit of a few pathetic oyaji.

[San Lumen]

And the people seem content with it

Japanese people are incredibly distrustful of politicians. No wonder there's widespread apathy, given they're faced with a corrupt, impotent system of graft and waste that never seems to go anywhere and just keeps squeezing more money out of the common folk for the benefit of a few pathetic oyaji.

It could be fixed if they weren’t so apathetic. Nothing changes that way

[Great Mann]

I do not have the greatest opinion of Abe from what people have described him thus far, so I hope there’s a better individual for Japan to come. I don’t know an awful lot of his politics, but Japan needs to pragmatically address the problems it is facing and to secure its geopolitical interests. Personally I think Japan needs to open up more to immigration (from the developed world, like Europe and the Anglosphere), lighten up on the homophobia, deal with the sexism in Japanese society and finally agree with the concrete evidence of what happened in WWII and move on from it rather than being like Turkey.

So fingers crossed someone better actually comes along and does good.

Always find it funny that the strongest advocates for Japan liberalizing its immigration laws are foreigners. Only 23% of Japanese support opening their borders to more immigrants. 58% are content how many they take and 13% want fewer. That's a supermajority that don't want increased immigration.

That’s understandable, Japan has an exclusive society. It’s very xenophobic. I’m merely citing the demographics issue. Increased immigration can only occur with the consent of the Japanese people. If the Japanese had more kids on average then things would be much easier for the country, but it’s going through a really bad crisis AFAIK.

[Kowani]

I do not have the greatest opinion of Abe from what people have described him thus far, so I hope there’s a better individual for Japan to come. I don’t know an awful lot of his politics, but Japan needs to pragmatically address the problems it is facing and to secure its geopolitical interests. Personally I think Japan needs to open up more to immigration (from the developed world, like Europe and the Anglosphere), lighten up on the homophobia, deal with the sexism in Japanese society and finally agree with the concrete evidence of what happened in WWII and move on from it rather than being like Turkey.

So fingers crossed someone better actually comes along and does good.

Always find it funny that the strongest advocates for Japan liberalizing its immigration laws are foreigners. Only 23% of Japanese support opening their borders to more immigrants. 58% are content how many they take and 13% want fewer. That's a supermajority that don't want increased immigration.

What the people want and what is good for them are not always the same thing.

[Kandorith]

Finally!

Maybe Japan can get a more leftist government for once. I doubt it as the liberal democrats have most of the seats in the senate, but there is at least hope that their grip on Japan will be shook a bit!

Hahahahaahahahha, no.

Sorry to help you out of your delusions but Japan and the left just don't go hand in hand.

Not to mention; the Japanese people just do not believe in politics. It's just scandal after scandal and another one who gets away with more scandals. Eventually the Prime Minister will resign or the Diet falls and re-elections are inevitable; as usual.

[Fluvannia]

Oh I know, but I have to hold out hope. They can't stop us 100%, perhaps a good compromise candidate could be reached?

Does anyone know a potential candidate? So far I only know about Abe's rival, former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba, and the current deputy PM Taro Aso. Both are hardly reformists. Masayoshi Shido would very quickly make Japan great again, though.

I've heard of that Shido guy, sort of weird to consider a bald PM though.

[Duvniask]

Finally!

Maybe Japan can get a more leftist government for once. I doubt it as the liberal democrats have most of the seats in the senate, but there is at least hope that their grip on Japan will be shook a bit!

Hahahahaahahahha, no.

Sorry to help you out of your delusions but Japan and the left just don't go hand in hand.

Not to mention; the Japanese people just do not believe in politics. It's just scandal after scandal and another one who gets away with more scandals. Eventually the Prime Minister will resign or the Diet falls and re-elections are inevitable; as usual.

It does have a significant Communist Party, the JCP, but they can't really accomplish anything in the legislature, true enough.

Still, they are a force for good in terms of combating the militarism and ultranationalist revisionism of the conservatives. If only they could do better to appeal to common Japanese, especially the precariat: "freeters" and non-regular employees who constitute more than a third of the workforce, but don't have the same job security of benefits as the "salary men". Also women, who seem like they're an untapped source of anger against the establishment.

[Northern Davincia]

Hahahahaahahahha, no.

Sorry to help you out of your delusions but Japan and the left just don't go hand in hand.

Not to mention; the Japanese people just do not believe in politics. It's just scandal after scandal and another one who gets away with more scandals. Eventually the Prime Minister will resign or the Diet falls and re-elections are inevitable; as usual.

It does have a significant Communist Party, the JCP, but they can't really accomplish anything in the legislature, true enough.

Still, they are a force for good in terms of combating the militarism and ultranationalist revisionism of the conservatives. If only they could do better to appeal to common Japanese, especially the precariat: "freeters" and non-regular employees who constitute more than a third of the workforce, but don't have the same job security of benefits as the "salary men". Also women, who seem like they're an untapped source of anger against the establishment.

Japanese militarism is well-warranted when your neighbor is China.

[Kubra]

Hahahahaahahahha, no.

Sorry to help you out of your delusions but Japan and the left just don't go hand in hand.

Not to mention; the Japanese people just do not believe in politics. It's just scandal after scandal and another one who gets away with more scandals. Eventually the Prime Minister will resign or the Diet falls and re-elections are inevitable; as usual.

It does have a significant Communist Party, the JCP, but they can't really accomplish anything in the legislature, true enough.

Still, they are a force for good in terms of combating the militarism and ultranationalist revisionism of the conservatives. If only they could do better to appeal to common Japanese, especially the precariat: "freeters" and non-regular employees who constitute more than a third of the workforce, but don't have the same job security of benefits as the "salary men". Also women, who seem like they're an untapped source of anger against the establishment.

To be fair, the JCP is a slightly lefter social democratic party rather than a communist party. Very traditionally marxist, Kautsky would love em.

[Kubra]

It does have a significant Communist Party, the JCP, but they can't really accomplish anything in the legislature, true enough.

Still, they are a force for good in terms of combating the militarism and ultranationalist revisionism of the conservatives. If only they could do better to appeal to common Japanese, especially the precariat: "freeters" and non-regular employees who constitute more than a third of the workforce, but don't have the same job security of benefits as the "salary men". Also women, who seem like they're an untapped source of anger against the establishment.

Japanese militarism is well-warranted when your neighbor is China.

eeeeeeegggggghhhhh let's really not touch this can of worms

[Duvniask]

It does have a significant Communist Party, the JCP, but they can't really accomplish anything in the legislature, true enough.

Still, they are a force for good in terms of combating the militarism and ultranationalist revisionism of the conservatives. If only they could do better to appeal to common Japanese, especially the precariat: "freeters" and non-regular employees who constitute more than a third of the workforce, but don't have the same job security of benefits as the "salary men". Also women, who seem like they're an untapped source of anger against the establishment.

Japanese militarism is well-warranted when your neighbor is China.

No. Post-war Japanese militarism is, aside from its original roots, the outgrowth of bitterness over the loss in WW2. It is the project of reactionaries who want a return to the old glory. That's not the same as maintaining the JSDF the way it was intended, which was as a self defense force.

[Torisakia]

Despite being a weeb, I know nothing about Japanese politics so I have no idea if he was a good PM or not. But still, hope everything goes well with him moving forward, and for Japan as well. I still want to visit there sometime in the future.

[Duvniask]

Despite being a weeb, I know nothing about Japanese politics so I have no idea if he was a good PM or not. But still, hope everything goes well with him moving forward, and for Japan as well. I still want to visit there sometime in the future.

In my experience, some of the only people who really stan him in the West are themselves weebs who know nothing about Japanese politics. So good on you for not automatically liking the man for being Nihonjin.

He just sucks (see: everything I've said in this thread).

[Sanghyeok]

Japanese militarism is well-warranted when your neighbor is China.

No. Post-war Japanese militarism is, aside from its original roots, the outgrowth of bitterness over the loss in WW2. It is the project of reactionaries who want a return to the old glory. That's not the same as maintaining the JSDF the way it was intended, which was as a self defense force.

I think the current state of JSDF is fine, if only they don't have aircraft carriers. As I said before, they need to recognize their actions in WWII before getting more military capacity. And I mean actual sincere apology, not whatever PM Abe and the right has been doing. Look at Germany, for example.

[Sanghyeok]

Despite being a weeb, I know nothing about Japanese politics so I have no idea if he was a good PM or not. But still, hope everything goes well with him moving forward, and for Japan as well. I still want to visit there sometime in the future.

In my experience, some of the only people who really stan him in the West are themselves weebs who know nothing about Japanese politics. So good on you for not automatically liking the man for being Nihonjin.

He just sucks (see: everything I've said in this thread).

In my opinion, he's just mediocre. He didn't do anything for average person as far as I know, but his biggest faults are trying to rewrite history textbook and visiting shrines of war criminals. And of course not trying to rework Japan society to be better for women and Koreans (Ethnic Koreans are still discriminated against in Japan heavily, even those borne in Japan).

[Ansarre]

No. Post-war Japanese militarism is, aside from its original roots, the outgrowth of bitterness over the loss in WW2. It is the project of reactionaries who want a return to the old glory. That's not the same as maintaining the JSDF the way it was intended, which was as a self defense force.

I think the current state of JSDF is fine, if only they don't have aircraft carriers. As I said before, they need to recognize their actions in WWII before getting more military capacity. And I mean actual sincere apology, not whatever PM Abe and the right has been doing. Look at Germany, for example.

They don't have aircraft carriers, they have helicopter destroyers!