politics

LDP scores big victory in upper house election

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Having Aso still in that picture says everything we need to know.

29 ( +39 / -10 )

In the nhk news they said voter turnout was just over 20%.

7 ( +17 / -10 )

According to a Kyodo News estimate, however, the turnout rate stood at only 52.0 percent as of 1 a.m. The figure is just 3.2 percentage points higher than the second-lowest turnout of 48.8 percent recorded in 2019.

Only 52%. So sad.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

In the nhk news they said voter turnout was just over 20%.

They started counting the absentee ballots after the polling stations closed. Absentee voting has become popular in Japan.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

A photo of four old conservative men. Just about sums up everything.

17 ( +28 / -11 )

The photo could be captioned:What is wrong with Japan

I will continue to work hard to protect democracy," Kishida said, in reference to the shooting of Abe.

Heading up a one party political state is just what the Athenians or Founding Fathers thought about 'protecting democracy".

The fresh mandate will also enable him to proceed with his drive to create a "new capitalism" designed to redistribute wealth,

So that is the Kyodo/party line take now? The oil supplier subsidies and other corporate subsidies needed no voter mandate.

But to redistribute wealth in this glorious "new capitalism" the LDP needed a fresh mandate from the people?

The LDP takes the public for a mark in a con game.

And the scammers are all lined up in a row there.

7 ( +24 / -17 )

The only progress that is going to happen any time soon is towards a larger military and smaller corporate tax. Things were bad, but LDP and Ishin gaining seats while any vaguely progressive parties lost almost as many may have long-lasting repercussions.

4 ( +18 / -14 )

Now that they've secured a comfortable majority and won't have to campaign for a few more years... open the borders and end the travel restrictions, please?

17 ( +20 / -3 )

IMO this "victory" is due more to the fact that voters see no options other than the LDP. The so-called "opposition" can not get their crap together, and in fact, many are former LDP as well, chameleons looking to gain their own little power bases, and only paying lip-service to the needs of the country.

Also the low turn out rate, shows once again the apathy of the general electorate towards politics here. Hard core LDP voters will turn out, no matter the situation, but the people who want to see some change, avoid the elections, as, (again my opinion here) they see no point in voting for someone who is going to loose.

Until the voting public, actually sees a viable option to the LDP, they are not going to consistently support an opposition, that quite literally cant do anything.

3 ( +17 / -14 )

Mickey Mouse, probably one of the most recognizable characters in Japan, could run for the opposition and lose too!

-1 ( +10 / -11 )

The only progress that is going to happen any time soon is towards a larger military and smaller corporate tax. Things were bad, but LDP and Ishin gaining seats while any vaguely progressive parties lost almost as many may have long-lasting repercussion

Japan has one of the best equipped militaries in the world, and with the security agreement with the US, does not need to get any larger, it just needs to better define it's roles.

8 ( +13 / -5 )

Only five family members and I registered a vote.

Not a single member of the family under thirty voted.

13 ( +17 / -4 )

Nothing else expected.

Those "oyajis" will run Japan for quite some time, probably all the way to the ground.

Expect taxes to increase even more for the ordinary workers, more benefits for companies and buddies.

6 ( +21 / -15 )

agree with all of the above. pathetic but to be expected. The one thing the LDP does well is gerrymandering and discouraging those who might not vote for them from coming out to vote.

-6 ( +17 / -23 )

Another tragic result as usual.

-5 ( +15 / -20 )

"The election, which is the foundation of democracy, was challenged by violence and it carries a big meaning that the election was carried through. I will continue to work hard to protect democracy," Kishida said, in reference to the shooting of Abe.

Abe sans untimely death, if the constant stream of police sub judice media briefing is to be believed, has little or no association to the belief in freedom and equality that defines any system of electoral government.

Time to face reality, Japan is ruled at least politically by what is represented in the photography above.

A ruling aging elite, so continually sliding economically into an abyss, with government, Parliamentarians oblivious to the structure of an 21st economy.

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

The ship is still heavily listing to starboard but nobody knows where the lifeboats are.

In Japan, if the natural disasters don’t do you in, the ineffective government will…

-11 ( +10 / -21 )

When fuel prices reach record highs this winter and Japanese freeze in their draughty homes, it will be passed off as ‘regrettable’

-8 ( +10 / -18 )

Oh look.

Wow.

What a surprise.

Go Japan………..

Why even have elections?

Well, whatever.

Just hurry up and let tourists in already.

And do something about this weak and worthless Yen.

-16 ( +6 / -22 )

hey see no point in voting for someone who is going to loose

That reasoning sounds odd. If nobody is going to vote for them, they're going to lose.

When fuel prices reach record highs this winter and Japanese freeze in their draughty homes, it will be passed off as ‘regrettable’

And outside forces will be blamed, ironically generating even more support for the ruling parties.

1 ( +9 / -8 )

Aly RustomToday  07:59 am JST

agree with all of the above. pathetic but to be expected. The one thing the LDP does well is gerrymandering and discouraging those who might not vote for them from coming out to vote.

They are indeed remarkably good at staying in power without ever actually doing very much.

2 ( +12 / -10 )

On visiting your local supermarkets either take a picture of all the prices of you weekly shop or retain the receipts.

I have been quantifying my energy and nutritional budget costs over a period of six months..

Lets not go there right now. It is sit down scary.

My family, the vulnerable elder members could well be up poo creek without a paddle.

This election should have highlighted fully the consequences of failure to address the dangers ahead for family incomes.

I don't think it did, do you?

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Not a single member of the family under thirty voted.

And that's the way the superannuated LDP honchos pictured above like it. They discovered long ago that working the populace to exhaustion while boring them to death with a Diet of political "nothingburgers" and "nuthinnuggets" and, with a little help from the LDP-tweaked and gerrymandered voting system, is the winning formula for party dominance and longevity. Abe's sudden demise, as expected, put an extra gust of wind into their sails to carry them to another dreary win.

10 ( +18 / -8 )

How sad for Japan

-2 ( +15 / -17 )

Taro Aso,

The poster boy for forced wartime labor. And environmental degredation. And sleeze. And gaffe after rib-splittng gaffe.

And yet there he stands. Bold as brass. Not a gram of shame in him.

4 ( +24 / -20 )

Well, ain't that a big surprise.

I haven't been so shocked since I found out the sun comes up in the morning.

This is the way the locals like it. The Elders have done nothing for us for two generations, but the are The Elders, and thus must remain.

North Korea with Smartphones.

-4 ( +18 / -22 )

Revising the supreme law

A superiority democratic dictatorship ?

If pioneering a new unique type of democracy as Kishida has announced is that really a revision ?

If one article of the constitution changes then other articles will need to be changed also.

Iam concerned that the countries that Japan previously attacked /colonized will be fearful of an active fully fledged Japanese military with nuclear deterrence and preemptive strike capabilities.

What assurances do we have that an expansion of Asia-Pacific isn't still on the Japanese agenda ?

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Educators, academics, must be cut loose to build and promote a curriculum that embraces every aspect of modern economic political science.

In bit sized pieces, and designed to encourage and inspire the next generation to vote.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

The ship is heavily listing

Got that right !

3 sheets to the wind but they haven't had a drop to drink.

They don't even have a regulation that keeps fire extinguishers up to code and tagged annually.

Recipes for disasters ar prevalent in Japan.

Forward thinking is backwards.

-10 ( +4 / -14 )

Low voter turnouts aren't necessarily a bad thing. It's better than having people who are unengaged in politics being pressured into voting for things they know nothing about. It does leave me to wonder, however, what will happen when the oyajis does out.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Redstorm on the 7pm news they said turnout was an average of 22%.

Only 18% in Okinawa, the lowest and 23% in Yamaguchi the highest.

Maybe absentee votes bring it higher but I was amazed at how low the figure was.

That's all.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

@darknuts

The voting result doesn't look like it was made by masses of well-informed citizens but rather a strong voting base that responds to the same soundbites about "security" and vague promises about the "economy". When these oyajis are out, new ones will emerge, perhaps from a dynasty, like the Koizumi. It's hard to imagine, but people like Aso were once young as well.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

If you didn’t go out and vote, don’t whine against the results. I voted after studying candidates’ agendas. Congrats to the winners!

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

You all know this was for the Upper House right? Turnout here is always dire even more so for the Upper House.

Did anybody expect even expect a different result, even prior to the awful events of Friday?

Until a group of people can cobble together a proper opposition that actually have some policies and some personality and mount a proper attack in a Lower House election then nothing will change.

LDP have been blessed for 70 odd years of rubbish opposition. Last time the opposition had a PM they went through 3 in 3 and a bit years.

Good opposition makes better Government. Japans opposition is dreadful. Period. None of them can make their mind up what they stand for and their leaders are devoid of personality.

Look how easy it was for Bojo in the UK to sweep tp power with a large majority when facing that fool Corbyn in 2019.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

This is Japanese democracy. The same exact result popping out at each election basically nonstop for the last 77 years.

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

JT you left out Sanae Takaichi

https://www.sankei.com/article/20220710-GKZ7Z4LRWBJ2ZMPRTKQ4AQQ6UU/photo/YPGQ4WFCNVPYBPNLYJYK5VKHRQ/

3 ( +3 / -0 )

If you didn’t go out and vote, don’t whine against the results.

Not an option for most of us tax payers. And the LDP and Ishin candidates in my area had keeping it that way in their manifesto.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

If you didn’t go out and vote, don’t whine against the results.

Not an option for most of us tax payers. And the LDP and Ishin candidates in my area had keeping it that way in their manifesto

Very few nations allow foreigers to vote in national elections. I cannot think of any. If foreign-born people wish to vote, by all means, become Japanese. That is a good option.

I think these results are a mandate to get started on changing that outdated, US-written constitution.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

caption this photo: "Here comes change!" lollllllllll

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

foreigners should not vote in elections here. i certainly do not want foreigners voting in my country

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

@Fighto

If it that were true (which I don't think it is, but I can't be asked to pull out the stats), it's irrelevant to my comment about us not having the option to vote. Some cities allow voting at local levels, but the parties I mention are working to block any such progress, most recently in Musashino city.

I don't think many, here or elsewhere will change their nationality for elections.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Not exactly a surprise seeing the situation on the past year, the control of the government has made quite easy for candidates to promise anything under the sun during the campaign.

It is unfortunate but the opposition has repeatedly wasted good chances to become a strong political opponent and nothing indicated this election would be a different case.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

> buchailldanaToday  06:57 am JST

In the nhk news they said voter turnout was just over 20%.

In my first POTUS election (when I just turned 18), Ronald Reagan got reelected bigtime but the voter turnout was just 25%. And so many critics and pundits, etc. beefed about him and his agenda.

hattorikunToday  10:36 am JST

If you didn’t go out and vote, don’t whine against the results. 

You got to vote, make your choice and express it. I've voted every year since I was eligible and of age, and even in mayoral elections where there was just ONE unopposed incumbent; I used the write-in. You still have made a choice that way.

The 2020 US POTUS elections were different in every way, over 83 million+ Americans said a Big Fat NO to the Trumpster dictatorship - a new record. strength comes in numbers. That's what true democracy is about.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

"Luxembourg if you have been a resident for five years prior to an election."

Only applicable in Local Elections.

Inapplicable in Parliamentary Elections (as this one is)

"Parliamentary elections"

"To vote you must have Luxembourg citizenship and be 18 years or more on the day of the election. Luxembourgers living overseas are entitled to vote by post."

"To vote in a national referendum, you must be a Luxembourgish citizen, 18 years or over and residing in the Grand Duchy. Luxembourgers living overseas can apply for a postal vote."

"https://www.luxtimes.lu/en/living-in-luxembourg/can-you-vote-602d6970de135b9236ab7f4f"

Conclusion:

Want to vote?

Become a citizen.

As simple as that.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Everyone's looking at the ruling party, well, OK. The criticisms are well known, and trotted out each time the LDP smashes its opponents in a free vote of the electorate. However, Kishida is "new" as a face for the PM, and in two separate elections under his leadership, the LDP has seen two unqualified victories, gaining seats each time, while the Right-of-centre grouping of parties has positively crushed the Left opposition.

On the other hand, if you look at the opposition, you'll see their version of "leadership" is every bit as woeful, indeed, even worse than the LDP: "Speaking in a press conference which started in late hours of Sunday, (CDP leader) Izumi said party executives bear responsibility for the outcome....but that he would not quit as party chief." lol!

"Leadership". "We're responsible...but I refuse to step down?!" At least the LDP saw an unpopular PM (Suga) voluntarily step aside for a more popular alternative. That move 100% strengthened the LDP, no matter what criticism you throw at it. This opposition "leader" Izumi, clinging to power, though? lol. Good luck with that!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

As long as article 9 doesn’t change, who cares? Just we get poorer, and poorer, but at least we live in peace.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

@starpunk: Spot on. Great post.

In Japan its complete apathy. The LDP have done nothing 'wrong' or particularly upset anyone unlike a certain Donald Trump did, but nobody has formed a credible opposition to make voters turn out and get rid of them.

Until Japan can produce somebody, a: to form a credible opposition party b: to lead it in a way that make voters believe they are voting for him or her rather than the party then nothing will change.

As much as I disliked his policies, Tony Blair from the moment he was leader until New Labour swept the country in 1997 is a prime example of that. Granted, he had the power of the Labour party behind him but I don't think the Union Leaders and the other out of touch socialist goons knew what they were getting into when they made him leader.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The LDP has had nothing but quantitative easing as a get out of jail free card for over 20 years, and they're very fortunate -- at least for the time being -- that 90% of the public are to some degree either apathetic or totally ignorant of this fact.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Press freedom index 71st, Japan's major media have gradually weakened criticism against government and ruling parties who repeat problematic politics.

During election campaign, Japan's right-wing ruling party LDP politicians had repeated problematic remarks or behaviour such as falsehood or disinformation or intimidation or discrimination.

But, under the name of "political fairness", Japanese major TV channels had avoided even something comments about political parties or candidates until Thursday.

But after assassination, immediately before voting day, major TV channels abandoned political fairness, spent innumerable news shows to praise or sympathize killed former PM, and urged to even agree his nationalistic policy.

Japanese general public who have little interest to politics were influenced strongly with such atmosphere.

Moreover, many Japanese vote to inhuman LDP who had deteriorated situation including democracy last 10 years and who continue to distress general citizen.

According to one research, Japanese have strong tendency that don't look policy, and vote to name of political party.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Poor democracy,this is not wha Athen’s thought us,a real democracy is alternate parties,this is more like a right ultra conservative oligarchy.

The picture by the way sums everything Jiminto is not,innovation,youth,difersity.

As usual nothing will change.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Good too see your optimism and opinions there @Rodney.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Ah well, to be expected after Abe's murder.

I'll be interested to see the age breakdown of the vote. Everyone assumes that it's old codgers who vote LDP but in previous elections, it wasn't the case. The most progressive parties, like the JCP, had the most support among the old. The biggest thing to say about the young is that they mostly don't bother to vote.

Our local LDP guy in Nagano, a talento called Sanshiro, narrowly lost. He was in a scandal a few years ago in one of the weeklies when his mistress got pregnant and he gave her a bung to get an abortion. Afterwards he asked the woman for a receipt and the change.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

As long as article 9 doesn’t change, who cares? Just we get poorer, and poorer, but at least we live in peace.

So long as people dont get too poor, becasue thats when people get desperate, and levels of crime will rise. but surely that wont happen in Japan. People would sooner gaman their entire family to death than steal.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

“Not an option for most of us tax payers. And the LDP and Ishin candidates in my area had keeping it that way in their manifesto”

Good that they have it in their manifesto. National elections are for nationals, citizens.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Dango

Oh and by the way it was foreigners that wrote your constitution so how does that feel ?

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Good that they have it in their manifesto. National elections are for nationals, citizens.

Whatever your opinion, they felt the need to put it in their manifesto, which means it's being discussed.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Mizuho and her own party survived? Damn!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

foreigners should not vote in elections here. i certainly do not want foreigners voting in my country

What about foreigners who have been naturalized a Japanese citizens?

Folks want their cake and eating too. Many countries dont allow foreigners to vote, but if they truly want to, they can, just follow the necessary rules, get citizenship, and then you can vote.

But let me guess, you dont like this either, do you?

Ill bet you dont like the Ainu and Okinawa people voting either, as they arent "pure" Japanese.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

YubaruToday  05:58 pm JST

Folks want their cake and eating too. Many countries dont allow foreigners to vote, but if they truly want to, they can, just follow the necessary rules, get citizenship, and then you can vote.

I wouldn't want to, personally. Given the voting options in these parts Japanese citizenship is pretty much worthless.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What do you think will happen, Imagine you had a job that you are not held accountable for anything,

you are not questioned, you don't need to report to anybody, you are not expected to perform, all you

need to do is once in a while make new promises that you won't have to keep. Even when you create untold losses your job is still secure. As expected most people won't bother to work, it is human nature. You can join the pathetic T.V and blame the opposition all you want how about the T.V doing their Job and pointing out LDP policies and promises that were never kept so that the apathetic public is atleast educated. Strange that the ruling party is never held responsible for anything at all meanwhile alot is demanded of the opposition that hasn't the means to execute any policy. In normal life, the opposition will have the benefit of doubt while the ruling party will be judged on their performance. Well You Reap What You Sow or as the saying goes As You Make Your Bed So Shall You lie On it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Predictable, though Orchestrated ?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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