Ishihara wins Diet seat

God help us!

No surprise here. But now what can he do ... ? He probably had more power ... and voice ... in the Tokyo governor's seat than he has in his new Diet seat. The LDP's rout puts his party in a more quieter position.

On other TV channels, 太陽の党 isn't listed of having any seat yet.

Congratulations to Shintaro Ishihara for once again duping enough voters to vote him into the position he wants.

How!?!?!?!?!?

More nationalist rhetoric incoming. :/

So the guys in the black vans and loudspeakers don't need to come out anymore?

Nooooooooooooooo !!

I could never understand how some people feared clowns. Now I understand.

Japanese voters, shame on you! When will you people take politics seriously and stop voting for idiotic clowns with no clue how to help you with the future of your families and your country?

This news and an article I read about 54% of men and 48% of women thinking a woman's place is at home, is just about the last straw for me. May be time to give up hope that Japan will ever be anything other than a country in decline again.

A very good day indeed.

Thank you china for putting us in this situation, if you are a Japanese don't feel bad, be proud because we are united regardless of our indifference. And to the foreigners Japan will never go back to his dreadful past.

日本は誇りに思う日本は誇りに思う

Nightmare scenario...

Simply beyond belief.

...

On any showdown with China? He will blink first.

As much as I despise the LDP, it is at least good that it doesn't look like they'll need to form any coalitions with this deluded old coot. He'll be completely marginalised in the Diet and so will his stupid party. The only downside is that taxpayers across Japan will be paying his hideously bloated salary.

All signs in the heavens and on the earth show that Japanese politics are redirecting towards nationalistic rhetorics. But still the situation is quite mild for the moment.

Be aware that Ishihara is a shrewd politician and he knows every step he is taking to be a next PM. If you are Japanese, well, everything is going down to hell for Japan. Good luck.

global does it really surprise you he won?

YuriOtaniDec. 17, 2012 - 05:55AM JST

global does it really surprise you he won?

No, as expected. I think he will be a good leader for Japan, but I strongly disagree with his policies.

Wow, this was one great night, first Ishihara wins and then I heard/read that the PRC's favorite tool is out, yep Ms. Makiko Tanaka is now eating crow with the rest of the Japan haters.

I'm not surprised he won. The Japanese public adore him. And that should tell you something about the nature of the Japanese public, the most reactionary for any developed country.

JoeBigsDec. 17, 2012 - 06:15AM JST

Wow, this was one great night, first Ishihara wins and then I heard/read that the PRC's favorite tool is out, yep Ms. Makiko Tanaka is now eating crow with the rest of the Japan haters.

I assure you that you will be called in to serve for military as the Japanese population is on decline.Old folks do not have to go to war, but you will. Japan will abolish JDSF current system. Hope you are ready to shed blood for Japan saying kamikaze "Banzaai" to a slaughter house. Good luck.

globalwatcherDec. 17, 2012 - 07:22AM JST I assure you that you will be called in to serve for military as the Japanese population is on decline.Old folks do not have to go to war, but you will. Japan will abolish JDSF current system. Hope you are ready to shed blood for Japan saying kamikaze "Banzaai" to a slaughter house. Good luck.

Now those re the silliest remarks I have seen to date, usually your posts have some sort of logic behind them, but this time you jumped out of the plane without a parachute. You must of been one of those that placed a Vegas bet on the DPJ to win it all.

If Japan rids itself of the JDSF it will take a while, this would not be done overnight. To rid itself of it the first thing that would have to be removed from the Constitution is Article 9. Then with the help of the US, Japan would slowly move for a peaceful force and move it's units into a more responsive one. This process would take around 5 to 7 years.

Next your Kamikaze supposed senerio, will not happen, modern warfare has come a long way since the illogical logic of desperation. Today wars are fought with stealth, training and technology all of which Japan has in ample quantities.

The fact of the matter is that modern warfare is no longer controlled by who has the most bodies to spare, but rather who has the best tech and fighting force. The US is a perfect example of this and Japan has been learning from them.

So your illogical so called slaughterhouse analogy is, dare I say, silly.

JeffLeeDec. 17, 2012 - 06:21AM JST I'm not surprised he won. The Japanese public adore him. And that should tell you something about the nature of the Japanese public, the most reactionary for any developed country.

You must have forgotten about the PRC sponsored riots, claiming that the Japanese are reactionary clearly shows that your do not understand the Japanese.

JoeBigs: The Japanese public's love affair with Ishihara has goes way back and remains unwavering. Regardless of whether Ishihara triggers disputes with neighbors or exhorts the military to round up resident foreigners in a disaster, his popularity among the common folk does nothing by rise.

If Japan rids itself of the JDSF it will take a while, this would not be done overnight. To rid itself of it the first thing that would have to be removed from the Constitution is Article 9. Then with the help of the US, Japan would slowly move for a peaceful force and move it's units into a more responsive one. This process would take around 5 to 7 years.

Wow, wow, wow, Then with the help of the US?

Why should we help you, you are removing the Article 9. Are you kidding me? Please read the treaty exactly what it says. We have no obligation to help you. WE WILL NOT HELP YOU. Keep dremin...... I see things ahead of 10 years.

"No, as expected. I think he will be a good leader for Japan, but I strongly disagree with his policies."

What?! How can you disagree with his policies and think he will be a good leader? I mean that is like knowing the jump from a 30 story building will kill you but giving it a try anyway.

This is the problem with Japanese voters. It is like high school politics. Taro-san is cute and genki, though he is likely to be against everything I hope for, I will vote for him because he is popular. Idiocy!

This guy and his mentor are nut jobs out to get Japan into either some kind of arms race in Asia or an actual war. Didn't you learn anything from the last war. Japan is a tiny indefensible island with no natural resources and not ability to sustain a war long term. China, is a nation with massive resources, a huge population and the capacity to move infrastructure away from harm. What does that mean? Without major US involvement Japan would see Chinese as the national language following a war with China. And why should US soldiers die to protect an island that voted to commit political suicide?

Politics 101. You vote and support people for their ideas and policies. And you vote against people who think will not do good for the country. It is impossible for a leader to be "good for Japan" and contrary to common sense policies at the same time. Like winter and summer co-existing in the same town and exactly the same moment in time. Wake up already.

One more thing. Japan doesn't want the US here. Doesn't want foreigners here. Elects right wing nuts who are nationalistic and anti-foreign. But you are still depending on US support should these nuts get you into a war.

Dear US Government. Please reality check these idiotic voters by telling them that the US will not support a nationalist Japanese government who kicks off an arms race or a war.

Well, the good news is that Restoration Party is pretty much only an Osaka-only phenomenon. The majority of the seats are won in Osaka only and pretty much ignored in rest of Japan. It will become irrelevant by the next term.

tkoind2Dec. 17, 2012 - 12:16PM JST

"No, as expected. I think he will be a good leader for Japan, but I strongly disagree with his policies."

What?! How can you disagree with his policies and think he will be a good leader?

I think the statement was made by me. I think Ishihara can get things done as he knows how to use power. But I NEVER SAID I agree with his policies. He is an extremist and a dictator. He is ready to abolish current Japanese Constitution and rewrite a new one. He is dangerous.

globalwatcherDec. 17, 2012 - 11:27AM JST Wow, wow, wow, Then with the help of the US? Why should we help you, you are removing the Article 9. Are you kidding me? Please read the treaty exactly what it says. We have no obligation to help you. WE WILL NOT HELP YOU. Keep dremin...... I see things ahead of 10 years.

Wow you really do not understand the US foreign policy.

JoeBigsDec. 17, 2012 - 01:05PM JST

globalwatcherDec. 17, 2012 - 11:27AM JST Wow, wow, wow, Then with the help of the US? Why should we help you, you are removing the Article 9. Are you kidding me? Please read the treaty exactly what it says. We have no obligation to help you. WE WILL NOT HELP YOU. Keep dremin...... I see things ahead of 10 years.

Wow you really do not understand the US foreign policy.

Your claim is void without NO backing. Be specific like I said. I think your post has no groud. Please tell me 1-2-3 like I did. .

Readers, no bickering please.

"think the statement was made by me. I think Ishihara can get things done as he knows how to use power. But I NEVER SAID I agree with his policies. He is an extremist and a dictator. He is ready to abolish current Japanese Constitution and rewrite a new one. He is dangerous."

Still disagree with the idea that being able to do something constitutes being a good leader. Hitler, Stalin, Bin Laden all got things done, but good leaders?

If a leader is bad for society, then by definition he/she cannot be termed a good leader. Despite his or her capacity to get things done or motivate the wrong people.

tkoind2Dec. 17, 2012 - 12:18PM JST

One more thing. Japan doesn't want the US here. Doesn't want foreigners here. Elects right wing nuts who are nationalistic and anti-foreign. But you are still depending on US support should these nuts get you into a war.

Dear US Government. Please reality check these idiotic voters by telling them that the US will not support a nationalist Japanese government who kicks off an arms race or a war.

I would not send my son to fight for these idiots. Probably, the State Department has been aware of this movement in Japan. They are not fool.