5 LDP candidates, in 2nd debate, push for hard line with China

****The upcoming LDP Elections should provide an important insight into the current status of the Liberal Democratic Party with respect to their potential to field a viable candidate for the Office of Prime Minister of Japan. While the candidates mentioned in today's article all have proven political backgrounds, and all three could easily become LDP President, the real challenge is which of the candidates are best prepared to offer long-term solutions to the prolonged economic challenges facing Japan, as well as which of the candidates is best able to balance the relationship between the United States and Japan as both seek to work collaboratively to maintain a stable economic relationship. Additionally, the next LDP President should be able to clearly articulate the advantages for voters to selecting the LDP as opposed to the other parties, most especially the DPJ. There are many challenges facing Japan-Economic; Geo-Political; and Social. The leadership team of the LDP must be able to clearly articulate a bold, and innovative strategy that looks at the long-term benefits to be derived by the Japanese by electing the LDP to power again. After all, the LDP lost to the DPJ in large measure because the LDP Leadership Team was inarticulate and incapable of promoting its own agenda on how to support Japan's Economy into the 21st Century. Thank you very much.

Respectfully, Mark Kazuo Bradley

Economists needed, not politicians who leverage domestic problems in foreign policy, because the gain is not going to be amplified, for the tax payers.

Keep up the protests China. Japan will shift ever more to the right in response to Chinese belligerence. Japan will eventually scrap its self imposed weapons export ban. It's already moving in that direction with its joint weapons development programs.

The issue of East China Sea islands is one explicit topic to attract people's attention. The people here often mention this and they are saying badly against the Chinese and stuff. This directly associates the coming election. The problem is neither LDP nor the currently dominant political party is capable of handling this type of issue. Both the politicians and citizens do not have long term perspectives even if many of them have high IQ. This is a cultural thing and the same was true with how they were during the WW2. They were lacking in strategies.

Nothing really matters to the Japanese people of whoever wins from the five, as long as that chosen one will continue and finish his term no matter what the future challenges could be. The LDP will sweep this election, DPJ needs to seat back and watch and wait another half a century of real samurai style dignity and honor to serve the people from the chosen one.

If not, Japan will rest in peace.

Early this morning, 100 fishing vessels left China for the first phase of invasion to the SENKAKU Islands.

The PLA Navy is on the stand-by.

The strategy of sending fishing vessesls first was successful in the invasion of the Philippines MISCHIEF REEF and the JOHNSON REEF of Vietnam in the 1980's and 90's.

Only parties win at election time. Unfortunately the people of Japan are ALWAYS the losers.. Enough is enough.

A hostile takeover and ousting (coup d'état) of these old selfish crooks is way overdue. NOTHING will change no matter which party wins. At the end of the day they are all members of the same corrupt and selfish old boys club.

Early this morning, 100 fishing vessels left China for the first phase of invasion to the SENKAKU Islands.

The PLA Navy is on the stand-by.

... Sanba is happily waiting for them for a nice breakfast.

tokyokawasakiSep. 16, 2012 - 11:19AM JST

Only parties win at election time. Unfortunately the people of Japan are ALWAYS the losers.. Enough is enough.

A hostile takeover and ousting (coup d'état) of these old selfish crooks is way overdue. NOTHING will change no matter which party wins. At the end of the day they are all members of the same corrupt and selfish old boys club.

Well, at least there is hope. Keeping yourself stricken with the negative sides will not make your life better, have some positive views in life and it will reflect on you.

LDP or DPJ, doesnt matters, they both are certainly not focused on long term goals, either of them just wins for a while and the economy keeps shrinking as usual!! Fake manifest to lure voters and dump the manifest when you dont care about voters anymore. This country is going way downhill too faster than one could imagine. No wonder China is strong enough to threat you and you are still living in those sweet bubble economy days!!! May God have mercy on these Nagatacho bufoons.

Good, I'd very like to see Japan stands a tough position towards China. Hopefully there can be a war between the 2 nations.

Seriously Sheetu? I hope you are joking as war is a terrible, terrible thing. Also, I think in all honesty that Japan would not stand a chance.

Waxman, Japan is definitely living in the bubble days. For all its technology, when I go into public offices, I am shocked at the antiquity of their duties. Everything is on paper and nothing is computerised, but I guess if it worked in the good old days, it must be the best way. In Tohoku, because everything was on paper, the government didn't actually have a proper idea of who was where and what was actually going on.

The education system is a joke too. In Australia, technology in the classroom is huge. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find a school without at least one smart board in operation. In Japan, if you mention a smart board, you are met with vacant stares. People don't even know what they are. When I first came to Japan in 1998, high school kids were still using slide rules in their mathematics classrooms.

Japan's political roller coaster seems to replace one senile old man with another, none of who are never seemingly in it for the right reasons. Each tries to bring about a few short popular changes, but nothing ever actually changes. Nobody is in it for the long haul, and nobody is willing to risk losing face to bring about the big changes that are needed.

Perhaps they're attempting to mobilise the people into a working frenzy this time around by telling them of a huge threat on their doorstep. It's worked before right, so why not do it again?! Sheesh.

Abe?? He already had his turn. Why is he still kicking around?

Both the headline and the story call this get-together a "debate." But from what I've seen in all their "confrontations" so far it is just talking ... no debating. And on occasion they tend to ramble on and on about nothing. Even though they are given time limits in which to express their opinions. it seems as if they are trying to impress the viewers with their ability to talk on endlessly.

As for getting "tough" with China, their party hasn't done that in the years since Okinawa's return to Japan. Back in 1972 when the U.S. ended its occupation of Okinawa the Senkawa Islands issue was put on the back burner by the LDP. And the LDP did little to bring those disputed islands closer to Japan. Can the LDP find the willpower to do it after they have won the next general election? Or will they once again turn to wishy washy thinking on the issue?

Somebody's going to have to get tough somewhere down the road. Or we'll see China gobbling up those islands the same way it has taken over other islands ... and even countries.

The only thing missing from this line up is Aso Taro. A group of gaffe-prone, racist, out-of-touch, nepotism-supporting old fogies is not complete with Aso. Throw in Mori as a bonus.

Don't know what others think, but I personally find Ishiba creepy. The way he talks, in that, slow, deep voice, as if he's about to pounce on someone. If I were a young girl, I wouldn't want to be alone with that guy. Creepy.

Pukey - LOL.

typo:

is not complete with Aso

should be

is not complete WITHOUT Aso

Surprise! Why not consider the former governor of Okinawa Masahide Ota - He works well with the President of China and get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar

@ Axel14: Well, at least there is hope. Keeping yourself stricken with the negative sides will not make your life better, have some positive views in life and it will reflect on you.

OK, what positives can you explain to me. What has the government done over the last 10~20 that has had a lasting and real positive outcome for the people of Japan?

I am not negative, I just say what most people think when it comes to the incompetence and lack of measurable results / progess made by each new party or prime minister... Drastic change requires drastic measures in my opinion, otherwise they will continue to run the country from the security of their selfish comfort zone and NOTHING will change.

Maybe fixed term will allow a PM and his/her cabinet to carry out long-term reforms. Can politicians focus more on trade and building economy rather than feeding their own hunger for power?! Bush ran the Iraq war like a family business, except for a few rich and powerful back home, no ordinary Americans got anything out of it, some even gave their lives. Japanese people are not supposed to pay for what Ishihara's games of getting his son the PM post.

@seoulhyundai: OK, what positives can you explain to me. What has the government done over the last 10~20 that has had a lasting and real positive outcome for the people of Japan?

I am not negative, I just say what most people think when it comes to the incompetence and lack of measurable results / progess made by each new party or prime minister... Drastic change requires drastic measures in my opinion, otherwise they will continue to run the country from the security of their selfish comfort zone and NOTHING will change.

Oh yeah? So what do you recommend, a coup d'état? a massacre? a civil war?,..that ain't gonna happen here in Japan. People here are peace loving and literate who believes in diplomacy and righteousness vice violence and war. In the essentialities of karate, we act in the spirit of self defense and using it as an offensive arsenal is a violation of it's very own existence and belief.

The way we acted on our 3/11 crises is one very good example of how people here are. So you're asking for what now?

@seoulhyundai:

or should I say @beijingleedai

pardon me if I have made a typo.