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What we expect of our politicians

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More than six months have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake and the unprecedented disaster that it brought upon the Japanese people. Unfortunately, however, our politicians have almost totally failed to present the Japanese people and international society with a clear and viable vision for recovery and reconstruction.

The foreign media have described the situation as one in which a “people of high civic standards is being led by incompetent leaders.” The expression “high civic standards” refers to the orderliness of the Japanese people, the high level of public safety that was maintained and the perseverance of the people. On the other hand, “incompetent leaders” refers to the delay in decision-making, the failure to respond to emergencies and the total lack of the ability to communicate.

Where does this gap between “high civic standards” and “incompetent leaders” come from? I believe it originates in the poor capacity of our politicians and the absence of leadership education. It is my observation that our leaders were not educated in analyzing and understanding the situation on hand, making speedy decisions and appropriately conveying information. Moreover, they have been placed in leadership positions without ever taking the time to develop a personal philosophy, a sense of mission or high aspirations that would provide them with a sound personal foundation.

Leaders are expected to perform the following three tasks under all conditions.

(1) To develop a vision, to make decisions by collecting necessary information, to put these decisions into action and to take responsibility for the results to improve Japan.

(2) To properly ensure and protect the national interests of Japan by communicating effectively with stakeholders both inside and outside of Japan (the Japanese people, government administration, local governments, foreign governments, international organizations, the people of the world), by making Japan a country that is widely liked and respected, and by raising the value of the “Japan brand.”

(3) To speak and act appropriately based on the positive values that are intrinsic to Japanese culture in order to serve as a role model for the people, to convey at certain times harsh and difficult messages to the people and to thereby shape public opinion, and to foster the positive culture that exists in Japan.

To sweep away the sense of gloom and uncertainty, anxiety and distrust that encompasses Japan, our politicians as responsible leaders of the nation must now more than ever before (1) act based on a positive and bright vision for the future of Japan, (2) communicate effectively with persons both inside and outside of Japan, and (3) build a good and sound Japan by restoring the beautiful culture that we have in Japan. To accomplish this, we expect our politicians to do the following.

1. Bring Vision to Politics

First of all, politicians must develop a positive and bright vision. We want them to present us with a vision that says, “This crisis, how hard it may be, will definitely make Japan a better country.” What politics lacks today is this kind of vision. The most important thing for any organization is a vision based on firm and definite principles. Armed with a bright vision, we can work together to break free of the current sense of gloom and uncertainty. This will allow us to take effective action. We want leaders who will develop a vision, convey it to the public, and lead the people in the right direction.

2. Strengthen the Economy as Source of National Power

We want our politicians to consider what the most important requirement is in enhancing Japan’s national power. Without a strong economy, new industries and new jobs will not be generated. Without a strong economy, a good social security system cannot be created. Without a strong economy, tax revenues will not increase and fiscal collapse cannot be avoided. After the Meiji Restoration, Japan prioritized the economy under the slogan, “rich country, strong military.” Japan should today adopt a new slogan, “rich country, happy people” (coined by Hori) that commits us to “strengthening the economy to ensure the affluence of the people.”

3. Think globally

Today, the ability to make judgments and decisions based on a global perspective is an absolute requirement in all areas of politics, business and economics, science and culture. An inward-looking nation will be left behind by the rest of the world. For Japan to protect and assert its national interests in the critical areas of foreign relations and national security and beyond to such fields as food, environment, resources and energy, it must at all times participate in the affairs of the international community on its own initiative. To achieve this, it is absolutely necessary for our political leaders to possess sophisticated international sensibilities and to have personal networks that span the globe.

Political leaders must of course participate in international conferences. But that is not enough. They should actively express and convey their opinions to the international community as representatives of Japan.

4. Act with Conviction

It is not an easy task for a nation to make decisions through an appropriate process and to translate these decisions into action. This is especially true under the current conditions of Japan’s “split Diet.” But it is exactly for this reason that the parliamentarians of both the ruling and opposition parties must bring together their highest wisdom to ensure that the affairs of the nation do not become bogged down. This requires unity of thought and of action. The disastrous earthquake has brought the nation to the edge of the abyss and has left Japan with no time to waste.

We find ourselves in turbulent times and in an age of social upheaval where the lowly in rank supplant their superiors. Armed with a firm conviction and vision and acting on their own accord as individuals, our politicians need to engage in debate and the exchange of views amongst themselves. In the course of this debate, they should always be open to the possibility of leaving their parties to form new political parties and committing to actions that lead to the emergence of new alliances and new realities.

When taking action, partisan interests and tactics must be set aside, and personal interests and selfish desires must be discarded to ensure that action is being taken from the perspective of, “what is the most important for the people of Japan.” Let our politicians be reminded that the people are carefully and calmly observing their every action and every word. The people are keenly aware of who is sacrificing the best interests of the people for his personal gain, which political party is guided by its own partisan interests and tactics, and who is busy engaged in discussions that leave the entire public out in the cold. Our hope is that our politicians will act out of strong conviction and that they will break through the current impasse with a commitment to wisdom and action.

5. Deploy, Train and Elect Individuals with True Leadership Qualities

In recent years, Japan has experienced an abnormal situation in which prime ministers have changed at intervals of about one year. This has seriously undermined the public’s confidence in politics and has done grave damage to Japan’s diplomatic and national security policies.

We want to see an immediate review and revamping of the current processes and procedures that determine the deployment, training and election of our leaders. As in the cases of the United States and Korea, it will henceforth be critically important for Japan to elect people who have had actual experience running an organization (for example, governors, mayors and corporate executives). In particular, we look forward to having politicians with a strong background in economics and extensive international experience. This is not to say that second and third generation politicians, ex-bureaucrats, former executive secretaries of politicians and graduates of the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management do not make good politicians. The point is that we want politicians with a lot of experience representing a highly diverse range of backgrounds.

Politicians who are constantly electioneering are not what we want. We want politicians who take the time to study current problems in depth, who endeavor to develop and enhance their capabilities and who will not be labeled as “incompetent leaders” in the foreign media. This is what the public wants and expects of our politicians.

© Japan Today

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19 Comments
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With the exception of the "Elect Individuals" bit, everything is sooo general and vague. Bring Vision to Politics, Strengthen the Economy as Source of National Power, Think globally, Act with Conviction - all this is beautiful and clear, but is there anything more concrete that "we" would expect, or is that all?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Also not how this article notes how the earth quake has brought "japan to the edge of the abyss" and left Japan with now time to waste. I think what people fail to realize, is that the Fukushima Nuclear accident is one of the reason why reconstruction is not happening the way it should. But Mr Hori who is an avid supporter of nuclear power, carefully treads around the subject and does not mention Fukushima at all in an article that clearly begs for the subject to be included.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Would honestity, integrity and the desire to work in the best interests for the safety and wellbeing of the population be too much to ask?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@Christina O'Neill Well Said,

But such trivial matters of the people can not be considered by the Capital Light-bringers.

From the Globis Capital Parthers site, about Yoshito Hori: He also served on the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

Would this by any chance be the same METI that has come under criticism for not being able to separate mammon from safety after the nuclear disaster?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Unfortunately Japanese society, schooling, work environments etc just ISNT conducive to producing leaders, at least in the western sense.

I dont see any changes for the better coming, and if there ever was a strong decisive leader, he/she would soon piss off a lot of people & the locals dont like when they dont get their way or attention on themselves, I just see Jpn going in circles, spiraling downward

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Put Ozawa in office so the people can at least have a good laugh.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Who are the "we" in the title? I don't think the author can be referring to the Japanese people there.

Let's see: "we want politicians with a lot of experience representing a highly diverse range of backgrounds", yet the Japanese people, of their own free will, choose the son of the previous guy every time. No experience, no diversity, that's what the people want.

"Politicians who are constantly electioneering are not what we want", yet I'll bet you any sum of money the Japanese people re-elect the clown Tanigaki, who has done nothing but posture, grandstand and snipe at the DPJ since the March disaster, at the next election.

"We want politicians who ... will not be labeled as “incompetent leaders” in the foreign media", never mind the foreign media, even politicians labelled as incompetent by the Japanese people themselves are re-elected over and over again. Yoshi Mori, with his 10% approval rate as prime minister, is still in the Diet, re-elected by a Japanese electorate choosing his incompetence over any alternative they were offered.

I would love to see politicians who fit the ideals listed by the author but the fact is that the Japanese people prefer to elect useless, corrupt, self-serving idiots. They do this willingly and without coercion and therefore have no grounds for complaint as the country gradually declines into a shadow of its former self.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If you look at some of the best leaders in the history of the world, you'll find they were great leaders not because they went to some "leadership school," or that they were educated on how to "develop and implement" some kind of "vision." You'll find that they were charismatic men (usually) who knew how to organize and inspire people to follow what they thought needed to be done.

In most democracies nowadays, those types of people become business leaders, not political leaders.

Also, it's tough for a worthy and charismatic leader to rise to the top in a democracy that has so many apathetic people.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

scrote,

bang on man

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They should do what they are supposed to be doing - REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THEIR COUNTRY.

That means that first, they have to LISTEN.

We don't need "vision."

We don't need them to meddle with the economy.

As for what "think globally" and "acting with conviction" mean, I haven't a clue, nor, I suspect, has the writer.

And as for "leadership," why ON EARTH does this even need to be said?

That this writer has chosen to mention it points to what is perhaps the crux of the problem.

We don't need "leaders" so much as REPRESENTATIVES.

People who have their fingers on the pulse of the society, who know what their public want and seek to get it for them.

I was in a sauna this afternoon and NHK happened to be on. There was a broadcast of a "debate" in the diet.

It was nothing but a bunch of people talking to themselves, resolving NOTHING, jumping from topic to topic in some show of apparent discussion.

Gawdelpus!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Terrific essay, Mr. Hori.

It is nearly tragic that a nation with such excellent "follower-ship" as Japan has to suffer the condition of ineffective leadership.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

We don't need "vision."

I beg to differ. And you just contradicted yourself with your next statement:

We don't need them to meddle with the economy.

It is hard to find a government decision that has no impact on a nation's economy. And the surest way to produce decisions that appear like "meddling" is to act without vision -- like a blind bull in a china shop.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Adding to Scrote's post, which has it spot on for me, I think Yoshito Hori has the expectations right, but the weakest link is the Japanese electorate themselves. The changes Hori would like to see will only come from the bottom up, not top down. Where is the incentive for current politicians to change their ways? What chance does a visionary politician have to 'do the right thing' when he has to please so many different factions within his own party?

Only when politicians are held truly accountable by the public from the threat of losing their seats will changes start to happen. Until then, the public have no right to complain about their useless leaders. As Paul Weller sang:

You choose your leaders and place your trust As their lies wash you down and their promises rust... ...And the public wants what the public gets But I don't get what this society wants

(Going Underground)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It is my observation that our leaders were not educated in analyzing and understanding the situation on hand, making speedy decisions and appropriately conveying information. Moreover, they have been placed in leadership positions without ever taking the time to develop a personal philosophy, a sense of mission or high aspirations that would provide them with a sound personal foundation.

True of all of Japan, including corporate leadership, not just politicians. You can count on one hand the true "leaders" in Japan. And not ging to change in any of our lifetimes.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The author tries to put the cart before the horse. Leaders do not develop visions, they execute visions. They have no time to do both, except a bit of "brushing up" here and there. The necessary input has to come from the population. The problem in Japan is that the political system has been designed to keep the population out of the political process as much as possible and over the time people have become dull about what's going on in politics. A vicious circle. As everywhere in life, you get what you pay for. In the political field this means people who don't care get leaders who don't care - except for their own well-being.

What Japan needs is a fundamental redesign of the process of political participation. This won't come magically by itself and certainly won't come out of the current political class, which is all too comfortable with the current system. It's something which has to be fought hard for.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

1 First of all, politicians must develop a positive and bright vision. - is wrong. *First of all, politicians must develop a REAL and bright vision.

2 We want our politicians to consider what the most important requirement is in enhancing Japan’s national IDEAS. Without a strong IDEOLOGY, new industries and new jobs will not be generated. Without a strong IDEOLOGY, a good social security system cannot be created. Without a strong IDEOLOGY, tax revenues will not increase and fiscal collapse cannot be avoided. After the Meiji Restoration, Japan prioritized the economy under the slogan, “rich country, strong military.” Japan should today adopt a new slogan, “wise country, happy people” (coined by Kakuhoningen) that commits us to “strengthening the IDEOLOGY to ensure the affluence of the people.”

3 Political leaders must of course participate in international conferences. But that is not enough. They should actively express and convey their opinions to the INTERNET international community as representatives of Japan.

4.... not be labeled as “incompetent leaders” in the foreign media. - in the foreign media I propose to remove this. Foreign media can write what they want. They do not define who is a good politician in Japan who are poor.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Gaijinfo - Very well said!!!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Why do we expect good plants to grow out of the poor soil? The plant I am referring to are Japan's elected political leadership and the soil is of course, the electorate. At the end of the day, Japan is getting the government it deserves.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why do the Japanese have poor leaders? One reason is because they function pretty well without them, and that is definitely not a bad thing. Leaders wither and die in such an environment.

Another reason is because the Japanese are even more truth challenged than other people. If a leader dares to be candid, frank and honest about a negative thing, he gets sacked. But if he talks positive and offers a crazy idea that is dangerous, dumb and damaging, but sounds nice, he will get praise. See the "ghost town" comment and the "share the contaminated soil" comment.

If Japan needs improvement its not that they need better leaders. The people need to be made to learn to tolerate and appreciate hearing the truth. It needs to be drummed into them hard in their school years until they can look at an infomercial and exclaim "Who would buy that crap?". It may not be super for the economy, but it will make a stronger nation.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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