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© Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.China, pandemic, energy top Japan's leadership race debate
By MARI YAMAGUCHI TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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Hideomi Kuze
This month, Japan's obedient mainstream TV channels and nationwide newspapers became advertising media for ruling party LDP before general election.
OssanAmerica
People whine about the LDP, but the only time it wasn't in power Japan became a mess. If more effort was put on improving the alternatives maybe there would be an incentive for change. For all it's faults, the pandemic, China. economy etc are all issues on a scale that are best handled without a complete change in power. Opposition parties in Japan have evolved to only know how to contradict, confront, obstruct the LDP. The short lived Kan administration showed that if put in power they were too inexperienced to actually run the government well. Not saying it's something that shoudn't happen, just saying this isn't the best time.
Yotomaya
Who is this for? The people don't vote in the party's leaders.
Mark
The Japanese people need to start thinking about the NEGATIVE impact of keeping one party in control, the time has come for Japan to give other parties a chance rule.
Mark
I am hoping that Ms. Noda wins opening the door for future women to lead.
Simon Foston
OssanAmericaToday 07:29 am JST
There's a lot to whine about.
That was just three years. All of Japan's other problems have accumulated during the other seventy or so years that the LDP have been in charge.
Any suggestions as to how they could be improved? There might be some incentive for change if it were actually easier for another party to take power, e.g. if constituency maps were redrawn to correct vote value disparities and the cost of becoming an election candidate were drastically reduced so that another party could match the LDP candidate for candidate, but nothing like that's going to happen while the status quo favours the LDP so much.
It's funny how people who make that accusation seem to know only how to criticise the opposition.
Yrral
China has so many nukes, they had put them in rows in Tibet, Google Chinese Missile Silos
Yrral
I hate to see paper tigers, trying to put gasoline on the fire, China strike less than in 20 minutes from it missile base in Tibet
Ricky Kaminski13
Although she keeps getting painted in this light by the press she seems to have traction with a certain type of Japanese voter that take her very seriously. The vocal types.
dan
4 puppets of the LDP.
Nothing will change and nothing will be done.
happyhere
Quantum computers? Can she explain which computational problems they can solve better than conventional computers and why these are important ? Doubt it.
ShinCebu
The result would be the same....
Randy Johnson
Doesn't matter because the end result will be a new cog replacing the old cog. Same ol same ol. Little to nothing will change.
I laugh at people when they name a japanese prime minister by name as if he and he alone makes policy decisions.
Apparently some cannot figure out that anything and everything is done by group consensus in japan.
Yotomaya
@Randy Johnson
I agree up to the point of group consensus being the main thing in Japan. It is, but not only here. Top politicians (and to an extent any politicians) have a lot of corporate and other interests behind them, which is one of the main reason that giving the administration a different, fresh face is only optics. Some could argue that a "moderate" like Kono will cause less harm than someone like Takaichi by, possibly, not further normalising revisionism and nationalism. I'm not sure about that reasoning, but the result won't be different either way as, ultimately, they're not really the ones to call the shots.
EBP
Kono: I did vaccines.
Takeichi: Missiles and whatever Abe tells me.
Kishida: What's the right thing for me to say so I don't offend anyone?
Noda: Caring about people, practical solutions.
Pukey2
That evil look on Takaichi's face in the top photo.
didou
Kan, Hatoyama and Noda administrations.
They did many positive things, trying to reform, but the Japanese are so refractory to any change.The 1000 yens fee for highways was beneficial. They also try to introduce different vacation time depending on regions, but here people complain as they could not meet family, etc and they like the mass movement.
The government was criticized for the Fukushima disaster but the the LDP would not have done better.
Japanese prefer to ignore the LDP failure than praise the success of an opposition party
Jimizo
Looks like Kono is taunting his opponents with the gesture football supporters enjoy when someone from the opposing team misses a penalty.
fxgai
So take your pick of big, centrally-planned government types.
Not a lot to look forward too.
Kono said some interesting things about pension reforms, but otherwise not much better than the rest.
Numan
I believe Seiko’s campaign was endorsed to simply divide the votes of those open to have Japan’s first female PM. Shinzo was hoping to use Japan’s willingness to always copy the US by having female leadership in the highest positions of the government and install another puppet of his LDP faction.
Sanae’s political ambitions make her a willing pawn for Shinzo’s plans. This will be her one and only shot at such a high position.
From this photo, Sanae’s expression could be interpreted as she wants to literally rip Taro’s head off.
Did he counter her point? Context is everything!
garypen
That's basically how she looked whenever the camera caught her while others were speaking. She made no attempt to disguise her dislike of the others, and especially her contempt for Noda and her mildly progressive positions. She appeared arrogant throughout, except when she was speaking. Then, she was all smiles.
krustytheclown
Underground compact fusion reactors?
Simon Foston
danToday 09:09 am JST
Of course not. That's not what the LDP's about. Their objective is to keep themselves in place as a de facto hereditary peerage by effectively limiting the franchise to select minorities that are generously bribed for their loyalty and exploiting loopholes in the political funds control law to build up campaign cash and bequeath it to their offspring, whilst keeping the cost of running in an election prohibitively expensive for the serfs and peasants. That's all working out just fine for them so why bother to change anything?
blue in green
All that's great, but then she said vaccinate the under 12's, which cancels everything else she said.
With antibody transfusions, + ivermectin, Vit C, Vit D3 no need for "vaccines"
https://www.thedesertreview.com/opinion/columnists/indias-ivermectin-blackout/article_e3db8f46-f942-11eb-9eea-77d5e2519364.html
Ricky Kaminski13
Anyone have a link to the debate?
William77
Four candidates from a so called democracy which in fact seems more like a one state party.
William77
You must fail to comprehend the nature of a true democracy which is based on alternate parties.
You criticize the opposition because it had just one brief chance in over 70 years.
People with such mindset keep nations in bigotry and are a negation of the true value of democratic elections.
Alfie Noakes
It's a chabangeki to distract attention away from the failure of Japan's political system and its dynastic political elite.
cleo
I came to comment on this totally tone deaf claim, but see that Marcelito has said it all.
The LDP were responsible for the Dai-Ichi disaster, refused to take acknowledge responsibility and did all they could to block Kan at every turn.
Helix
That evil look on Takaichi's face in the top photo.
3RENSHO
"She appeared arrogant throughout, except when she was speaking."
How can arrogance be judged from appearance?
itsonlyrocknroll
Not the most awe inspiring debate.
A pseudo politico knitting circle, a meeting of three minds that agree, and a rabid right winger.
I suspect a charade, I believe the next LDP leader has already been appointed, your card has been stamped.
The rest is a formality.
These factions don't melt away, disappear, they will always be there in the shadows pulling the strings.
Think, look, these proposals all have harped on about could have been implemented years ago.
All are not new to political office.
Jacko
Do not give more publicity to this over publicised "race" please
garypen
Seriously? Are you not familiar with how facial expressions and body language work?
lolozo79
With no viable opposition, it's down to: Wally from Where's Wally, Japanese everyman, female Joker, or Woke wannabe. What sad times we live in.
kennyG
Media enjoy presenting this kind of photo-op. This is the exact timing when Kono was challenging Takaichi by denying the capacity to attack enemy bases
kennyG
Correct me if I am wrong. DPJ manifesto was to make highway principally all free of charge but ended up like this. DPJ failed all of it's campaign promises except making public high school free of charge. For DPJ, manifesto was simply empty promise. Keep making empty campaign promises basically insulting voters, which is obviously being handed over to CDPJ.
Those who support DPJ, just look back and see how badly Hato-pee was wandering completely within his own dream world.
Simon Foston
Some amateur LDP propagandists should perhaps keep in mind that the DPJ no longer exists and Hatoyama's been retired since 2012. Therefore it's pretty stupid to try to bring them up as a reason for getting behind the LDP in 2021.
itsonlyrocknroll
Simon Foston, in reality, there is no recognizable opposition, just the people opposite keeping the seats warm.
It is the lack of focus on the economy, childcare, depopulation. a realistic reform program, you know when government take a serious review of the employment laws.
No more dead mans shoes.
There was no real debate.
Richard Gallagher
Excepting Noda: The absurdity and posturing over Taiwan would simply be ludicrous, if not for the intent to actually foment an antagonistic policy towards a well-armed 'superpower' - let alone the dependency on China for manufacture and assembly of the world's consumer goods, upon which Japan has forged a subordinate role. That individuals who haven't a nascent awareness of the carnage that such would bring, speaks not just to incompetence, but indicates they are not fit to inhabit the highest elective office (or any other).
The only candidate who wouldn't be at home with the Taliban, is Noda. Whatever her faults, she is the only one who seems sane and healthy. The other candidates: Kono, Kishida, andTakaichi are so far to the right, one step further would land them in a mental hospital. All are borderline psychopaths.
As for the three candidates: Kono, Kishida & Taichi: At a juncture in history, where civilization itself is in peril, the shop worn failed ideas, that are basely ideological and crony capitalism - the supposed progressive technological 'fixes' from surreal nonsense about fusion reactors and quantum computers - the daft jive about nuclear power as something other than to be phased out - shell game accounting as a budgetary process - none of it speaks well to a viable future. Not one of those three has an actual vision of and for the future.
To top it all off. Takaichi. An admirer of the Third Reich proposes passing laws to enable lockdowns, in case of a future pandemic. Her version of a Reichstag fire. Which fits the sometimes embrace of draconian and tyrannical notions expressed by various postings to the JT 'thread' as a solution to the current pandemic aka SARSCoV-2 contagion.
kennyG
Heck. How often so called the opposition have been changing names of the party and how come they had do so?. Changing the name of the party or splitting the party doesn’t deceive voters at all. Look who’re now running RDPJ.
Simon Foston
itsonlyrocknrollToday 06:50 pm JST
I hate to say it but that can't be denied. The best that can be hoped for is that the CDPJ will gain a few seats in the next election so that they emerge as a more credible alternative, and then a more charismatic and media-savvy leader takes over who promotes a viable manifesto from day one and makes the LDP scared. I have no idea when that might happen though.
ReasonandWisdomNippon
So much trash talking about Japan's government. Political party. Justice System.... Works for Japanese.
We shouldn't have to live like you want us to live, or make changes here because in your country it's done that way.
ReasonandWisdomNippon
Countries with more crime. More prisoners. Bad leaders voted in power. Overweight population, life expectancy lower by 10 years, easy access to guns... Are lecturing Japan and how we do things. Priceless!
Simon Foston
ReasonandWisdomNipponToday 11:04 pm JST
I get the idea you would prefer it if we didn't. Let's all turn a blind eye and try to con ourselves into thinking it's all perfect just like LDP online supporters do, eh?
Simon Foston
ReasonandWisdomNipponToday 11:00 pm JST
Doesn't work for Japanese where I live who want to vote for someone other than a geriatric conservative male.
Jay
Why do people keep complaining about the LDP and Abe? Japan is one of the best nations on Earth to live on right now. If you're trying to shake that up, and implement changes from other countries, which are in chaos right now, then you seem to be pushing for nothing less than the destruction of Japan.
Jay
No, it's not perfect, but it's one heck of a lot closer to perfect than what other countries are doing. Why do people keep pushing for policies that are detrimental to society!? The only explanation I can think of is that you WANT Japan to fail, so that you can keep pushing for your global politics, the same way America was sabotaged from the inside by people that hate America and want a global government.
Simon Foston
JayToday 01:53 am JST
Read some of the comments. The reasons are all laid out.
Simon Foston
JayToday 01:57 am JST
Why, what are other countries doing that's so bad by comparison?
I'm not pushing for any policies. What on earth are you talking about?
Simon Foston
kennyGSep. 19 08:08 pm JST
In other words you know the LDP are just as bad if not worse, but you can't admit it so you try to change the topic. It's a very predictable and stale tactic that others with a lot more tact and persuasive skills than you have tried and failed at. If you aren't going to say anything good about the LDP let's just take it as a tacit admission that you can't because there isn't anything good to say about the LDP.
kennyG
Also, don't ever tell others to do what you don't do
voiceofokinawa
International issues such as China, Taiwan and Koreas were among the topics they talked about. But no talk about the U.S. base issue, more important than China, Taiwan and Koreas as far as Japanese taxpayers are concerned.
Recently, the Japanese government agreed with the U.S. as regards how to the dispose of 360-thousand liters or 1800 drum cans of PFAS-tainted water stockpiled at Futenma Air Station with a cost amounting to 92 million yen. In other words, the Japanese government is clearing up the US military's mess (environmental pollution) without any due and reasonable explanation.
Is this merely a local issue, not very important to discuss as a national issue? I think this issue is questioning if Japan is genuinely an independent sovereignty.
kennyG
Those who don't understand relative thinking are helpless
kennyG
marcelitoToday 12:39 am JST
To your eyes、Hato-pee and Suga are comparable?
Under the pandemic, Suga had done things like...
Final decision to release treated water into sea in 2 years time after re-fine process through ALPS
Price down for mobile phone monthly charge
Revised Seeds and Seedings Law to protect Japanese fruits freely stolen by a country like South Korea
Started reforming the Science Council of Japan
promoted QUAD、Japan-Australia SpecialStrategic partnership
World top-speed vaccination despite the slowest start with maintaining relatively low death ratio
Subsidy, support fund, Tax-cut, Tax-exemption to Individual owner/small-medium firm/Freelance8.Established Digital Agency
More....kennyG
And of course, Olympics
Simon Foston
kennyGToday 08:53 am JST
Childish. Not surprising though.
and Suga are comparable?
That's not generally seen as a very good thing, and not something to boast about.
That's one good thing.
So what? It's not actually that hard to achieve. Why were they so slow to get started?
Sounds a bit socialist. The LDP is big on socialism for its supporters though, isn't it.
Who for? How much?
More zombie companies kept on life support by the taxpayer. Great.
Trivial. All of it.
TARA TAN KITAOKA
Do all U, candidates remember the saying, do not mind other countries business and never threaten.
Desert Tortoise
There you go. That is exactly the mentality that allowed Hitler to kill 6 million Jews. I thought the world learned a lesson from that tragedy. Apparently not. If you ignore crimes against humanity such as those against the Uyghurs and Tibetans you are complicit in them and are in part responsible for those deaths. Yes you are.
kennyG
@marcelito
I am glad to see those who dare to declare “ if you touch us, your cabinet would collapse” were kicked out. Who do these 6 members of the council which is not even research institute think they are. It’s not as if they lost their academic freedom.
Spreading covid all over Japan? Any scientific evidence? I don’t recall any reports which explained clinical causal relation of travel itself which accounts for less than 10% among all people’s movements.
Lol. Stop exaggeration, that means he officially promised as such perhaps on air every month? Really?
So tell me which country is nowadays bring infections under control without strangling daily economy? People are already talking about 3rd shots, 4th shorts, or could be endless shots. Or otherwise endless lockdowns, aren’t they.
You must know the government had been asking each hospitals to do so (not to mention, the gov't cannot force hospitals to follow the order under current law) Are you saying that hospitals should sacrifice other patients with other fatal decease?
I see you think Japan should take all the blames and are not interested in what sort of bunch of vested interest groups IOC tuned out to be. At least like Go-to campaign, you are to present any scientific evidence if you think Olympics further spread covid all over Japan. You cannot underestimate financial impact either of complete cancellation or postponement tearing up host country’s contract. I agree it should have been postponed only if it was possible, which was not.
Unlike your favorite South Korea which troops had been already there on duty before the mess, JSDF was not there. Article 9 prohibits Japan SDF to act any further than outside of the key airport. That is why Article 9 redundancy must be removed. Do you agree or what?
Perhaps I should remind those who assume LDP couldn’t have done better under East-Japan crisis, of the fact his 1 year has been also under the pandemic crisis, whereas Hato-pee’s journey to his dream world was not
voiceofokinawa
What kind of a nation do they want Japan to be in the future?
Since the 1945 defeat and surrender, Japan has gone through the direct U.S. occupation and then a long period of subjugation by the U.S. under the Anpo regime despite putative sovereignty supposedly having been recovered.
Okinawa shoulders and embodies all the contradictions this Anpo regime forces upon Japan.