PM candidates outline policies at joint news conference

Politicians with their bold talk when they are not in the hot seat.

Am I the second one to post here? hmmm

I am just surprised that Japanese have nothing to say here while non voters like me are expressing our concerns about Japan's future and its political system. The AKB48 got more attentions than this topic. Very discouraging.

What's going on in Japan? Do they care? It is their country.

Or maybe the rich, bureaucrats, politicians and media have been successfully controlling to keep J. public in ignorance just like slave owners did to blacks in US. I am just getting suspicious if Japanese oppressors are keeping good books and education away from J. public, so that they can keep power over them. I am sure you have been aware of the fact, J. education standing has been rapidly declining. It is pathetic.

I care.

I am sure you have been aware of the fact, J. education standing has been rapidly declining

Has it really though?

Why are these five putting there own policies forward to their own party??? The DPJ was elected on its manifesto to the japanese people, has the manifesto been abandoned since 3/11. I think the whole party should concentrate on that manifesto, plus the ongoing reconstruction after the 3/11 disaster.

Kaieda is a complete socialist. God I hope he doesn't get in

minello, They actually talked about that during the conference. They pretty much all said that the manifesto shouldn't be changed. Mabuchi and Great Wall of Kaieda said that in view of the party's obvious lack of popularity and the March disaster, there may be a need to review the manifesto.

I watched the debate yesterday. I wish the American presidency could be decided so easily, as much as I enjoy politics, a year and a half of campaigning gets boring after a while.

These are my views:

Kano probably can't even tie his own shoelaces, he is a a total clutz and is only there because he has served his time in politics. I really hope he doesn't get the vote. I'm sure his wife would be happy to have him out of the house more often though. I have no idea why he chose a career as a politician. So I think out of these 5 he would make the best Japanese PM. Picking Kano is a no brainer, even I could pull off a half decent monomane impression of him at the annual work party.

Noda would be the next safest bet, he would make a good puppet, and he wouldn't have any opinions or ideas that might get in the way of the all the tradition of most important job in Japan. He'll need to practice to be a better speaker on television though. If he is to win the hearts of the Japanese population he'll need to learn those numbers and terms off by heart. I can really see him stuffing up in front of the camera's and saying AKB47 instead of 48, that kind of thing will really drop the party ratings. But with him running things, we could all just sit back and relax, knowing that nothing would change, and that we could keep on living our lives without having to care about the the economy, disaster recovery, the jobless, elderly welfare, the environment our future generations that we will never meet.

Kaieda is a real politician. He can answer any question so that we have no idea what his actual views and intentions are. After hearing him speak 20-30 times yesterday, I still don't know what his policies are, but I'm just relieved that he promised to do What is best for the future of Japan, he said that 3 times yesterday, what a nice kind thing to do! Being backed by Ozawa, who has been banned by the party is a really smart move too, will improve his chances a lot.

Mabuchi and Maehara are both young and fresh, have probably never felt-up any young girls on the train like the other 3 candidates, and they have opinions and stated their policy intentions clearly during the debate, so they don't have much chance. They also came across as actually wanting to do something about the current political issues, and seemed to have energy and be passionate about politics. That will really annoy the older politicians who feel that they themselves should be the next PM because they have been waiting forever. So these 2 have no chance. Mabuchi, the terminator, has 5 children and actually has a life outside of his daily job though, so we'll put him at the bottom of the list. Besides, Maehara has already resigned once from his former ministerial position for taking illegal money, so that puts him ahead by a whisker in terms of experience.

A very good read:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorials/2016026667_edit28japan.html

Whoever be the PM, won't be long... ;) Changing almost annually. How to progress? Omg @. o

The point I am trying to make here is this, the next PM should have a long term objective for Japan recovery as well as a short term. I am a big fan of book titled "Wealth of Nation", in the book, a key of success depends on progressive education.

China and India have been heavily investing in education in the past decade. Why not Japan? The failing policy of LDP was due to the fact they did not execute the stimulus package effectively. They just went to a shopping spree and started building unnecessary airports and Hakomono that are now empty and useless. The failing policy only helped those short term unemployed construction workers, construction contractors and bureaucrats. And now many are going back to square one to line up at "Hello Work" centers. Japan's unemployment is very, very high at 4.6% that is relative to US employment of 9.2%.

Therefore a long term employment has to link to a full time and a long time employment.

How about promoting a life long education system in society? How about hiring these Japanese to restore Tohoku in exchange of 4 yrs higher education? How about hiring these bilinguals for offshore business as an internship program? These who hire interns will get a tax incentive to do so. There are more long term investments I can list; setting up more nursing schools, building more hi tech hospitals and nursing homes, alternative energy, medical R&D.as many baby boomers are entering into retirement..

Also, the next PM should understand GDP growth and current Yen situation has no link as it used to be.

I just hope Mr. BOJ is smart enough to stay independent and do the right thing as we are in global economic war. In conclusion, I belive the key of long term success depends on education that will promise Japan a competitive edge.

The photo reminds me what Watanabe of Everyone's Party have said today. They are a bottled beer with no lid and no kick!!

Lunchbox, very cynical but completely true. Japanese politics is completely backwards! Looks like the candidate backed by the crook will win. The Japanese need to be saved from themselves help!!!

globalwatcher: "I am just surprised that Japanese have nothing to say here while non voters like me are expressing our concerns about Japan's future and its political system."

Why does that surprise you? That's the way it's been for a long, long while. We have good ideas and could help, but are allowed to do nothing -- and it'll probably never change so long as the government benefits from the general apathy of 'voters' here.

5 candidates for PM outline policies at joint news conference

What surprises me the most is they actually have "policies".

Why does that surprise you? That's the way it's been for a long, long while. We have good ideas and could help, but are allowed to do nothing -- and it'll probably never change so long as the government benefits from the general apathy of 'voters' here.

Agreed, smith. Maybe a solution to the problem is to let them hit the rock bottom that day will come sooner than you and I think. What do they do if another big earthquake hits Japan tomorrow? The house is not yet in order after 6 months has just gone by. I just do not see any bright future while a wide spread apathy (from obasan to politicians) still alive among people of Japan. Hopeless.

Care & Frustrated