The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© 2021 AFPTakaichi joins race to be next PM; outlines 'Sanaenomics' policy
TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
Video promotion
The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© 2021 AFP
149 Comments
Login to comment
stickman1760
@Monty she’s known as a fascist. Fortunately, you don’t have a vote.
Asiaman7
“Sanaenomics” — just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?
ReasonandWisdomNippon
She has your vote because she's a woman.
Lowest bar you can set.
Doesn't matter if she's qualified, doesn't matter her party anymore, only qualification that counts, being a "Woman".
divinda
I'm looking forward to getting my Sanae-no--mask in the mail.
Cricky
Not one of the candidates has said anything close to
improvement of life for workers
creating a happy society
wage increase, pension increase
sorting out the pension mess
lowering tax
stopping the stupid multilayered systems of paperwork
revamping the education system
NO it’s Nippon Kaigie No1 change the constitution
All of them, voters are blinded.
William77
Another rightist Jiminto one.
Yeah sure,that’s what the country need.
The one state party reign.
Speed
Don't vote her. If you want a continuation of the Abe debacle then do the dumb thing and put her in.
Sam Watters
Nope. You lost my vote. I called it before: the LDP is using this crisis to change the constitution.
Politik Kills
Please no! She’s a rabid far right nationalist. She’ll send Japan into even worse relationships with the neighbours.
Mr Kipling
Even as a woman she won't be getting the feminist vote. She and her policies are very much anti women.
Her views are ... Ladies, get married, take your husbands name, stay home, have babies and shut up.
enolagay
Heavy metal fan huh ? Hey Sanae, name three heavy metal bands.
.......
noriahojanen
Though Takaichi is a fresh first time candidate, her policy line is a typical, obsolete LDP old school. She won't make it this time (but has nothing particular to lose).
Wakarimasen
Yep. More print and spend. Just what the country needs.
mariasjapan
Sanaenomics = Abenomics…in other words she’s a puppet!
shogun36
She’s one of Abe’s cronies? Pass.
gaijintraveller
The most positive things about her seem to be that she likes heavy metal and used to have pink hair. Everything else seems to be a big negative.
Why does the article not mention that she is in Nippon Kaigi? Why is there no explanation of what Sanaenomics is?
It seems Japan has become a theocracy controlled by a religion, Nippon Kaigi. Belonging to that sect seems to be a requirement to be prime minister or any other government minister.
The big question is not who will be the official PM, but who is the de facto PM. I say that because I have lived here a long time and can remember when even though PMs kept changing the LDP and consequently the government was in fact controlled by Kakuei Tanaka even when was no longer even an official member of the LDP.
Jacko
I'm sorry but genuine question, what has she done to merit a candidature for the election? Or are they just playing the gender card?
gokai_wo_maneku
Nationalist?? She is a fascist! Woe for Japan if she is made PM.
Aly Rustom
'Sanaenomics' policy
Give me a break. I know J politics are crap but this is a new low!
exactly!!
Paustovsky
She's a weak man's idea of a strong woman.
Johansawada
No to Takaichi! as if the neighbours don't hate Japan enough... she will literally start a war!
cleo
Do as I say, not as I do. Par for the course for the LDP.
GW
She is super bad news!
XXXXenomics........how ""original"" not SUPER FACE PALM!!
She is a nutjob!
Michael Machida
" She is a regular visitor to Tokyo's controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors war dead including war criminals, and is a flashpoint in relations with South Korea and China."
She is not the best choice out there.
I wish someone in Japan with a new ideas would run for Prime Minister.
Someone young with talent.
A leader.
But who?
lucabrasi
Unpleasant hard-core rightist.
Just what the LDP ordered…,
snowymountainhell
Regardless of PM, Japan will still be reeling from *Aso-nomics: *The NEXT 2-5% consumption tax increase is imminent to pay for the Olympic debacle; the much-hyped “need” to increase the size & powers of the military; and, the on-again, off-again, on-again, tried & failed Covid ‘policies & measures’ of the last 21 months.
jiji Xx
whoever 'wins' this contest, I expect an all-time low voter turnout in the next general election.... even lower than usual that's to say. not that our illustrious leaders care, they'll just go on with their political theatrics.... just like everywhere!
dagon
Takaichi joins race to be next PM; outlines 'Sanaenomics' policy
Meaningless catchphrase check. More of Abe's neoliberalization and regressive taxes.
"As we prepare for unforeseen risks, we may have to start reviewing legal frameworks that would enable us to implement so-called lockdowns," she said.
Check the date...Now, she is considering lockdowns? The LDP have something to learn when it comes to disaster capitalism. Maybe they hope another round of GoTocan rev up virus transmission for a constitutional revision in 2022 and then a strict lockdown when they can finally proclaim that is the reason for victory over coronavirus?
oldman_13
Yikes, hopefully a hard pass from the voters.
PTownsend
That's the direction far rightists around the world want; for them 'progress' is a negative. The far right want to return to mythical days of yore, they prefer regressing.
The LDP have been largely unable to shift out of measures used in the bubble years, 40 or so years ago.
But as long as the voters elect politicians who are related to political families that have long controlled the country and push their grandparent's' policies, do not expect much to change.
HBJ
How can this inconsequential sentence just be dropped in, yet there's no reference at all to her questionable past links to extreme far-right groups?
cleo
Apparently she did ... and she didn't.
According to a piece she wrote on her website, she officially took her husband's name, on the koseki record and other official documents; but it was her husband (the one whose political stance she couldn't cope with?) who insisted that she continue to use her maiden name in her political activities.
A bit of having yer cake and eating it, if you ask me.
https://www.sanae.gr.jp/column_detail337.html (In Japanese)
If/When she makes a mess of it (nothing personal, all Japanese PMs seem to make a mess of it lately) it will shut the door on female advancement for at least half a century.
Hardly an insurmountable hurdle, I would have thought. Just look at the competition...
(^ワ^)
Cricky
There is no way LDP Faction heads would go there. And public opinion does not matter in this at all. It’s up to the same old men as usual to dictate who will be PM. It’s not an option poll.
gogogo
Making it look fair and balanced, but the apparent czar will get the nod. Surprised Abe isn't floating around yet.
Takara
No thanks, this hypocrite wants to be first FEMALE PM in Japan. When same time supporting male only succession, traditional woman role etc. Did she lost her uterus on the way or her views apply only to other women but not to her?
daito_hak
You missed again your chance to not write a totally silly post. Congratulations.
The fact she is a woman does not matter. She is literally insane and hence have no business to lead this country. I don’t care she is a woman.
Aly Rustom
OF COURSE they care!! They want low voter turnout as it makes it easier for them to win. The more apathetic the public the more votes and seats they fill in the lower and upper houses. Of course the LDP will always win the election- this is a done deal. Its just about how fascist they can be as they run the country into the ground.
Do the hustle
A female PM in Japan? There’s more chance of a unicorn being the next PM
yamada1043
Copynomics ... how unimaginative can it get?
Gooch
Sounds pretty awful to me. Just another authoritarian.
Couldn't have made it much worse.
Desert Tortoise
I might have liked her when she sported pink hair, rode a motorcycle and listened to heavy metal ! Now, not so much. None of the four likely candidates for PM are offering anything even halfway innovative in terms of economic policy. If two decades inflationary monetary and fiscal policy hasn't succeeded in turning around the deflationary pressures on the Japanese economy more of the same isn't going to do it. It is just making the national debt larger. Japan needs young workers so businesses can expand output. With Japan's demographic trends the only way to do that is to attract immigrants. That implies some major societal changes that will make many Japanese uncomfortable. Taro Kono mentions a need for immigration but would he have the nerve to make it happen? The rest of his policy ideas are just more of the same.
kennyG
Nibek32Today 05:03 pm JST
Yes. Please and enlighten us which country is not nationalistic today. possibly with definition of nationalistic you have in mind.
Aly Rustom
it is and will continue that way anyway
NCIS Reruns
Woo boy...
New Cabinet ministers' pasts coming back to haunt Abe
Sep 10, 2014
One week after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reshuffled his Cabinet with an eye to the future, the past is coming back to haunt him: Revelations of controversial past statements and actions by his newly appointed ministers are drawing criticism abroad.
In a photo that appeared online Wednesday, new Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Sanae Takaichi is pictured with other politicians in a full-color ad in the magazine Tokyo Seikei Tsushin endorsing a 1994 book titled “Hitler’s Election Strategy.” Takaichi had only the year before been elected to the Diet as an independent.
A spokesman for Takaichi’s office confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that the photo was of her, but said she had no recollection of the book or of promoting it.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/09/10/national/politics-diplomacy/new-cabinet-ministers-pasts-coming-back-to-haunt-abe/
Harry_Gatto
She was married for 13 years from 2004 to 2017: did she change her name to her husband's surname?
Desert Tortoise
Yes it is. Japan has a parliamentary system where the leader of the party holding a majority of the seats in the lower house of the national legislature serves as the Prime Minister. It might be the only house of the national legislature if the nation has a Unicameral legislature such as New Zealand. A PM chosen from the majority party in the legislature is the most common form of elected representative government. The PM is also the elected representative of a legislative district, just like all of his or her peers in the national legislature. Directly electing a PM would turn the office into the equivalent of an elected President separate from the Legislative branch. You could then have a situation where one party controls a majority in the Legislative branch while another party controls the Executive branch. There are good and bad points to both systems but directly electing a PM would fundamentally change the form of government Japan has.
fxgai
And it doesn’t matter whether it’s LDP or the opposition; either way they both want to spend 30 trillion yen more, even though spending already exceeds 100 trillion in non Covid times, while tax etc revenues only bring in 65 trillion at record highs.
She isn’t proposing any neoliberal policy that I can see? It’s all big government spending and new central authority powers.
justasking
She sounds like one of the ol' boys, except she's a girl. No for me.
Nibek32
I love the idea of a female PM for Japan, however, this woman’s nationalistic views are no different than your typical 90 year old Japanese man politician.
She will keep Japan in the past at a critical time when Japan needs to pivot to become relevant again on the global stage.
OssanAmerica
They haven;t been bad for 76 years. Maybe you mean a bad as China is now?
Probably at least as long as your lifetime. Even Shinzo Abe made clear that he wanted only the second paragraph of Article 9 amended to recognize the existence of the JSDF. He insisted that the first paragraph, which prohibits Japan from using military force to settle disputes, the portion which we call the "Peace Constitution" remain intact.
Constantly pointing at a Japanese historical boogeyman is a not so clever way of distracting from territorial expansion, subjugation and genocide today.
Brian Wheway
A couple of things
1: will she have a back bone as other blokes dont seam to have one.
2: deliver what she promises?
3: stop or reduce corruption with bigger fines?
4: initiate a national sex offenders registar?
5: start a program for mental health issues, to help people suffering from...?
Martimurano
Plans to become Japan's first female Prime Minister......? You'd have thought that Koike may have piped up by now to stake the claim for this, after all, she's far higher profile.
jeancolmar
'Sanaenomics.' One aspect of a doomed cause is silliness. Giggle away your troubles as medical disasters pile and social and economic become a mess. I am assuming that Sanae Takaichi, an ultra-nationalist and caretaker of the lost cause, is trying to be both cute and funny. She is neither. She is an ignorant person who ought to know better at her age that 'Sanaenomics" is baby talk.
fxgai
Apart from her gender, I don’t see that.
Is she bashing socialism? All this extra spending profilers makes me think not. More Abe style big government spending, comparing her to dear Thatcher would make the great lady roll in her grave.
kennyG
Lol. You shouldn't press your political views to your family. So don’t talk about politics at home. I agree
Flute
So another authoritarian candidate wanting to control who can speak.
And she sucks a geopolitic
Misogynist to boat
And an adept of : the rules or the peasants do not apply to us the elite :
https://www.shugiin.go.jp/internet/itdb_kaigirokua.nsf/html/kaigirokua/000517420100310003.htm
Bonus trash : Hitler fan and neonazi selfy buddy.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/japan-adolf-hitler-book-haunts-interior-minister-sanae-takaichi-1465067
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/09/neo-nazi-photos-pose-headache-for-shinzo-abe
=== No, thank you !
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
The question is who is most qualified to be a leader of Japan.
A leader that can bring positive change and unite Japan with the international community .
To question the candidates performance because they are female is unfairly sexist.
Anyway name one prime minister of Japan that actually was able to achieve what they promised.
The currently democratic system if you can call it that,makes it difficult to achieve anything promised by any of the prime ministers.
Time for a change Japan your system and laws are messed up.
Desert Tortoise
As much as I consider Japan to be a friend and ally today, major elements of the LDP and their political and social allies to this day refuse to fully acknowledge the aggressive nature of pre-WWII Japan nor will they admit to the frequent barbarities committed in the Emperor's name by the IJA. Likewise the full truth of Japan's aggressive pre-WWII actions are not taught in Japanese schools. To the extent Japan fails to fully atone for its wartime past it feeds the narrative of its several enemies in the region.
Simon Foston
kennyGToday 04:44 am JST
Have a look at Nippon Kaigi's agenda.
Are you being deliberately obtuse?
Is it? I think all three countries are at it, personally.
When did I ever say that? It's extremely disingenuous to assume you know what other people believe, not to mention bad-mannered. It's little wonder Japanese nationalists have a hard time convincing others of their views with such rude, patronising attitudes. In any case, I certainly don't believe anything Shinzo Abe says.
That sentence doesn't bear much close scrutiny but basically looks like a trite, melodramatic platitude of the sort that LDP hacks are always coming out with.
as_the_crow_flies
"Sanaenomics" ...?
... and that, dear reader, is where I stopped reading.
As the least of a bad lot, Kono strikes me as having more potential, whatever faction he may be from. For years, he was calling for pragmatic immigration policies, which is a sign of an acceptance of reality. Definitely a start for Japanese politicians. It would be refreshing not to have a robot, or some idiot who spouts whatever garbage is fluttering through his empty head at that moment. Or imagine the kind of female politician who gets as far as the leadership race - the ultra right types who believe 'action' equates to holding up a clenched fist, or peeling slogans off a cardboard signboard, or wearing a city bureacrat's work jacket.
bo
A japanese version of Thatcher, the iron lady, God help Japan if she gets in, expect everything to go backwards
Harry_Gatto
Seems she doesn't listen to her own advice.
Taku Yamamoto: He married Sanae Takaichi, a fellow member of the House of Representatives, in 2004. They agreed to a divorce in July 2017, with Takaichi citing differing political views and aspirations as the reason for the divorce.
lucabrasi
Thatcher is doing the opposite of turning in her grave.
albaleo
Perhaps, but Takako Doi occupied a prominent position in Japanese politics back in the 80s and 90s. So the door has perhaps always been open, if only a little.
kaimycahl
I wonder if half the people here posting can actually vote in Japan? The reason being is everyone is posting what they want and that is a perfect candidate that they are not going to get. Its all the same, nothing is going to change. It is the way it is!!!
藤原
The Mouth of Abe.
Chabbawanga
Seriously? A female prime minister of Japan? That'll be the day.
Tomi
Kono will be the one.
She has hardly any support and is a fake carrier politician.
Pukey2
Sanaenomics?
More like Snake-anomics, as in snake oil.
OssanAmerica
So what's wrong with that? Japanese aren't allowed to be nationalistic while their neighbors in China and South Korea are drunk on nationalism? Neither of which have a Peace Constitution.
Alan Bogglesworth
Something about her makes me uneasy...
Bordeaux
It appears that Sanae has had some work done. She has been eyeing the PM position for sometime and will say and do whatever it takes to cover her bases and to get the votes.
itsonlyrocknroll
Sanaenomics has the tone and ring of salmonella, at least fiscally, monetary, economically.
There is no underlining policy that governs the actions taken covering the systems setting interest rates and budget proposals.
That before you have to stumble over the fact Sanae Takaichi is a toxic right wing harpy
Simon Foston
kennyGToday 06:55 pm JST
With all the hard-right nationalist politicians like Abe and Takaichi wanting to set the clocks back to the 1930s, whitewash history and arm Japan to the teeth I don't blame them.
Nothing. Except when you know or suspect they're all dead and are just keeping up the pretence of trying to rescue them to win votes.
Anyone who thinks politicians like Takaichi go there to mourn the war dead with all the media watching them is very naive.
Flute
I would like to remind people that LDP do not just want to amend article 9. They want to amend the whole Constitution including making it easier to get further amendment :
https://www.jimin.jp/english/news/117099.html
For more information about modification :
https://apjjf.org/2013/11/28/Lawrence-Repeta/3969/article.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Japan#2012_Draft
There was also other drafts proposed (japanese) :
https://www.cfr.org/japan-constitution/politics-of-revision
itsonlyrocknroll
This is interesting.......
Young Japanese lawmakers call for free vote in LDP leadership race
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Japan-election/Young-Japanese-lawmakers-call-for-free-vote-in-LDP-leadership-race
Simon Foston
itsonlyrocknrollSep. 9 11:08 pm JST
Koike's political ability didn't impress me in the run-up to the 2017 election. She had her chance with Kibo No To and she blew it. I doubt if the LDP factions will be paying her much attention.
kennyG
Here this is HP of Nippon Kaigi and it must be easy for you to point which part of it's agenda are setting clocks back to the 1930's.
http://www.nipponkaigi.org/about/mokuteki
therougou
The poor taste in not only copying Abenomics but not realizing it doesn't work with her name is enough for me to not vote for her. If I could vote, that is.
Sven Asai
If she now also includes some of the important other candidate Kishida’s programmatic thesis that we could read about today, she indeed might be the number one choice instead of him. Well, doesn’t matter, I’m unasked and not eligible to vote anyway…lol
Richard Gallagher
No surprise - jarheads endorse a fascist. Nothing learned while serving. Except obeisance.
Moskollo
So, your policy is to use a failed policy abe ended up not wanting to talk about? You’ve waited all your life for this opportunity, and that’s all you’ve got? Next..
starpunk
Did she take out a page from the book of 'Reaganomics'?
Well, Japoan has Loudness which I remember from the 80s. They made some inroads in America, made it on MTV. Then there's the pervert's fantasy Babymetal which I just don't care for at all. Boris is considered to be 'metal' to some, I just think they're innovative, cool and whacky. That's three 4 ya. Japanese at that.
Alexandre T. Ishii
All of what she said and what she is saying sound something that we should ponderate...Oh yeah?
William Bjornson
In the SHORT TERM, which is what most only see, she may seem an undesirable candidate for all of the fantastical reasons laid out like sardines in oil here. BUT, her election to PM would open the door to an entire new pool of untapped talent in the Japanese world, Japan's women. We have seen for too long how poorly Japanese males of the political class have managed Japan and most voices here who have commented before have probably complained about the 'good ol' boy' networks, cronyism, all the usual carping. Here is the first REAL opportunity to CHANGE that.
And without appearing to be more 'male' than the males, how could she have managed to reach a point where she could actually have a chance of even entering the race? Politics is a looong game and she has had to play it to get to this point, to win the 'approval' of enough of the establishment to even be allowed to compete. No one can predict her policies once she is free of having to please the males.
Staying in the same place has been the politics of Japan for too long and sometimes we must take a step into the future of 'issun saki wa yami...'. But that requires courage and imagination which, it seems, are not the main characteristics of the thoughts we see here.
And the carping about 'gender' ignores a fact well established long ago in science, to get to this point as a woman, she almost certainly has to be way brighter than the males around her. And intelligence in leadership is Japan's most necessary need at this time of ever more complex international relationships and unexpected difficulties (see: COVID). It's time to let go of old prejudices and do the 'new' thing, to be BOLD even if the boldness is just having good sense.
TARA TAN KITAOKA
Not her , nothing new, just a repeat of abe. Japan have no more time or money to waste for repeated policies that are nonsense.
Donald Seekins
Let's look a little more closely at the notion that Takaichi Sanae is a "nationalist." Often, a nearly equivalent word is "patriot," meaning one who loves his/her country. A true nationalist or patriot wants to make their country better: a good standard of living and quality of life for the people; improvement of education not only to make the country competitive technologically but because students' minds need to be broadened, so they can live life to the fullest; protection of the environment to be able to live more harmoniously with nature; basic freedoms so that people can choose the life they wish to live without harming other people; honest politicians who take public service seriously, not thinking they are exempt from the rule of law; and peaceful relations with other countries, resorting to armed force only when necessary for self-defense.
If Takaichi became prime minister, would she pursue these sort of goals to make Japan better for its people? I doubt it. She seems - in the manner of many shallow-minded Japanese people - nostalgic for Japan's wartime totalitarian society, which caused great suffering for Japan's neighbors. She wants to amend the constitution, perhaps to make it a replica of the Meiji Constitution. She's in there in a big way with the Liberal Democratic Party's plutocracy. Don't expect "clean" politics. Remember Abe and the Moritomo scandal.
Will she make Japan better? I doubt it. She's a woman. Who cares? So was Eva Braun, the companion of someone in modern history Takaichi greatly admires.
Simon Foston
MartimuranoToday 06:06 pm JST
She can't. She would need to get re-elected as a Diet member and re-admitted to the LDP. No way that could happen before a general election in October.
itsonlyrocknroll
The one element, politically missing, is deference.
Respect for the electorate.
The belief that all will bow, kowtow to whatever is served on a plate without question.
The next generation better get there head on the right way up and vote.
itsonlyrocknroll
Simon Foston, Yuriko Koike is not remotely eligible.
However don't under estimate Koike political ability, almost chameleon like, to foster a methodology to garner the means to make a short term change of public opinion.
Enough to focus the attention LDP factions
Harry_Gatto
Quite so. She tried once before to become leader of the LDP and failed miserably; Aso won.
TARA TAN KITAOKA
None of these current candidates. Too much copying and too much promises.
jeancolmar
"Sanaenomics" is baby talk. She may not be the worst the LDP has to ofter.
GBR48
If I was an arms dealer, I'd be lobbying for her. Police weaponry - batons, tasers, tear gas, restraints and body armour - to enforce lockdowns and some serious military kit for any wars she starts.
Helix
@Simon, @fxgai,
Yes, Im just making a joke regarding how criticism of any female favored by a certain political persuasion is ad nauseum answered with the “threatened by strong, capable women” line.
In fact Im not a fan of Takaichi, her love of heavy metal notwithstanding.
crowbag
Michael Scott "no" meme
Our world does NOT need more fascism!
Simon Foston
MarginallyUninformedToday 11:00 am JST
Why? I don't recall Abe ever achieving anything meaningful, such as any "third arrow" reforms, but he certainly managed to antagonise Japan's neighbours and make himself look either crooked or incompetent with the corruption scandals that occurred.
El Rata
She is a true nationalist, just what this country needs!
kennyG
What the heck is wrong with amending Article9 whereas there's no countries with such constitutional norms around you? Especially CCP's China officially threatens to make Japan as the 1st exceptional nuclear target、
and South Korea never skip military drills every year around Takeshima?
What the heck is wrong with doing the best and whatever possible to recovering the abductees?
What the heck is wrong with mourning the war dead at the very place where the war-dead themselves had promised with each other " We could return there anyway. Let's meet at Yasukuni"
itsonlyrocknroll
"As we prepare for unforeseen risks, we may have to start reviewing legal frameworks that would enable us to implement so-called lockdowns," she said.
This statement is enough to sound the sirens at full pelt.
Can you seriously imagine the social mayhem of a lockdown in Tokyo/Yokohama high rise rabbit hutch's....
It appears to be beyond Sanae Takaichi comprehension.
itsonlyrocknroll
kaimycahl
Good question, I have a vote, but to what conclusion, where is the ideological option within the National Diet which reaches ideologically across party lines, that deems my vote irreverent.
The old boss is essentially the new boss, with the same policies. until the the whole ship sinks.
Simon Foston
itsonlyrocknrollToday 10:05 pm JST
I don't know why people keep bringing up Koike. She's a busted flush when it comes to national politics, and she's not even eligible to be leader of the LDP any more.
kennyG
Simon FostonSep. 9 09:22 pm JST
Ridiculous. setting clocks back to the 1930's? How? Also what part of history or how exactly are Abe and Takaichi whitewshing? It is not Japan or they whitewashing but that CCP China and both Koreas are fabricating history isn't it.
So you believe what North Korean leaders say by returning someone else's ash rather than Japanese leaders say. No wonder.
Try to be a politician at national diet having a ultimate goal to become PM, then you feel you cannot ignore or even want to mourn the war-dead from bottom of your heart.
Pierre LeVenerable
I miss the good old patriarchy. Ever since woman got involved in public life, the world has gone mad.
Richard Gallagher
Sanae Takaichi. An admirer of the Third Reich's fuhrer. Which is so far beyond the pale, it is to the right of right-wing. Those advocating her election purely because she is female, best take a look at that which she embraces. A rather foul ideology. Which is to be kind.
kaimycahl
Some people just don't like change but I think the women can do a better job. Not only will it bring change in politics but a change in culture where women will be looked upon more than just a housewife.
jerry
she looks like a fierce school principal. :p
William Bjornson
Good to see, nothing but 'coherent' objections here pretty much summed up by:
Unless, somehow there is sarcasm here...
Dango bong
I don't think so...
Seesaw7
Japan has never had a female prime minister
It's high time for women power ! (Provided they don't talk too much in the meetings) I guess!
snowymountainhell
Think the image is just contrarian RJ and no true service was ever rendered
itsonlyrocknroll
You can view Sanae Takaichi approaching from the time it takes to visit Tokyo from Nagoya.
In the wake is Yuriko Koike, hiding in the shadows biding her time.
Joe Blow
It's not Japan that's ruining diplomatic relations in Asia, it's China, NK, and SK.
Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne
Kaimycahl -
The discussion is who is the most appropriate candidate not who can actually vote.
Try to be more optimistic and non- judgmental.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Not to mention your constitution was made by foreigners because Japan waged war on foreigners.
Thats if Japan actually wants to be a democracy and be respected in the international community.
Obviously you don't know how many of the commenters on here can vote otherwise you wouldn't ask.
And obviously change is coming otherwise there wouldn't be an election.
Aly Rustom
That's what Abe did with his BS Abenomics.
She's just copying, Abe who copied Reagan
voiceofokinawa
Nobody knows who will be elected as head of the LDP and eventually prime minister. But if there's always a discrepancy between popularity of candidates within the LDP and that in society at large, a direct election by general voters should be given serious consideration.
Japan's current system of electing prime minister remains to be revised and modified. As is, Japan's democracy isn't a bon-a-fide one.
Geoff Gillespie
All the debate here as if she has any chance AT ALL of winning the party leadership and thus the top job - c'mon, people, she's a woman!!!! She stands about as much chance of winning as I do of growing wings and flying. It's Japan....
kohakuebisu
I hope the Japanese public remembers that other political parties are available for their votes.
60 is not quite old enough to have lived through the golden age of heavy metal. I say this because there was a big trend to do "live in Japan" albums. Made in Japan, Tokyo Tapes, Unleashed in the East etc. and there must have been a good scene here. Thrash is okay but overall 1970s metal trounces 1980s and everything since.
BeerDeliveryGuy
Japan has been attempting to play both sides for too long. Trying to appease rival nations who want nothing less than to see Japan annihilated hasn’t worked, and has further emboldened them.
Perhaps a drastic swing to either side, complete capitulation, integration, and cooperation (left), or refusal to bow to emotional blackmail while strengthening national defense (right), is what it takes to shake Japan out of its doldrum.
If she is a metal fan, she would be familiar with the phrase, “we’re not gonna take it anymore.”
Nibek32
Your logic of saying Japan should be free to do it because other countries do it is rather a warped and dangerous way to run a country.
do you really need me to explain why?
kennyG
Simon FostonToday 08:44 am JST
Here this is HP of Nippon Kaigi and it must be easy for you to point which part of it's agenda are setting clocks back to the 1930's.
I know you are just dodging my question. I ask you again, What part of history, and how exactly are they whitewashing.
And this is a typically disingenuous response.
Then your 2nd sentence starting with "Except...votes" totally unnecessary because none of both Abe or Takaichi officially mentioned they believed the victims had been already dead unless you **disingenuously assume you know what they personally believe as such,** especially when 5 elder victims who had returned were still all alive now
It is clearly you yourself** *extremely disingenuous to assume you know what other people believe, LOL*
Simon Foston
OssanAmericaToday 01:38 pm JST
You're saying that Japan should be allowed to be as bad as they are?
How long do you think Japan would continue to have a Peace Constitution if Takaichi and her ilk had their way?
ShinkansenCaboose
And if you are out on the street walking for exercise, whom do you think the police will pull over for questioning first? Yup, same as the first to get pulled over for riding a bicycle.
"As we prepare for unforeseen risks, we may have to start reviewing legal frameworks that would enable us to implement so-called lockdowns," she said
ShinkansenCaboose
Against the constitution. Is that ok?
"As we prepare for unforeseen risks, we may have to start reviewing legal frameworks that would enable us to implement so-called lockdowns," she said.
Samit Basu
Japan's enemies welcome Abenomics and Abenomics 2, since this is the fastest way to bankrupt Japanese government.
Scorpion
This is a "GREAT IDEA", just like all the "Other" ideas in Japan. Sadly Japan is not ready for a female to be in charge, let alone someone who is not 1000 yrs old.
kennyG
Did you look at the Clown Edano's CDPJ 7 manifestos recently?
MarginallyUninformed
I am not sure whether she would ultimately be preferable to Kono or Kishida, but I think that the reflexive catastrophizing over her Nippon Kaigi affiliations and whatnot may be a bit myopic. He had numerous personal flaws and made some missteps, but I think that a general continuation of Abe's policies and attitudes could be beneficial.
I think my only concerns would be on her statements regarding press freedom.
I will say, the note about her rock-and-roller days is charming, if a bit irrelevant.
Simon Foston
OssanAmericaToday 02:05 pm JST
Now or any other time, you seem to be okay with it.
You actually believe anything that Shinzo Abe says?
Mark
She is off to a great start sporting such a fake face! Must be totally trustable!
voiceofokinawa
OssanAmerica (Sep. 9, 01:38 pm JST)
Neither of which have a Peace Constitution.
Does the U.S.? Besides, Japan's peace constitution is coming apart at the seams by the U.S., that forces unconstitutional treaties and agreements upon Japan to fight international wars along with them.
ShinkansenCaboose
Grow up and get real little woman.
Suga is better,
towingtheline
Just another mindless 'Nippon Kaigi' far-right and ultranationalist drone. She'll be devoid of independent critical free thinking.
Out of interest, is Sanae Takaichi trans gender?
8T
Definitely a better choice than Suga. Go for it!
venze
For a change, why not elect a woman to be Japan's new premier?
Perhaps that may cool down the male warmongers for the time being..
William Bjornson
It seems the main objections here are 1) she's a patriot of and for her People and not afraid to say so, 2) she may have the strength to actually do what is necessary to mitigate the deadliness of the COVID threat to her People, 3) that the failed policies of her mentors will absolutely determine her own path. My only interest is what her policy may be vis-à-vis Article Nine and the viability of Japan's future without it while under the thumb of the U.S. who would use Japan as a proxy for aggression in the Western Pacific. Regardless of the past dance she has had to do to achieve her position, there can be no predicting what she will do when she becomes The Boss and needn't kowtow to the sensitivities of the males anymore. Japan needs a new direction and she is the ONLY 'new direction' in sight. Time for a change, Japan, and what other change presents itself?
Monty
Takaichi is known as a heavy metal fan
She has my vote!
Peeping_Tom
"Should she become prime minister, Japan would move even farther to the far right with her pre Second World War mentality, even worse than former Prime Minister Abe."
Hope so.