politics

Koike: A political paradox shakes things up ahead of poll

20 Comments
By Linda Sieg

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that's all nice and good but how are the Olympics planning sessions progressing while you campaign? And how is the Toyosu market scandal being handled? Have you even done anything as governor in the last few weeks?

Too much patting on the back. I liked her a year ago but souring now

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Dango Bong agree with u

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Her origins may account for a style that admirers say has more in common with venture capitalists than staid lawmakers.

So she is Japan's female version of Trump, but with one big difference, she's got a brain!

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She counts among her mentors Ichiro Ozawa, a one-time LDP heavyweight who helped engineer the long-ruling party's ouster in 1993 and again in 2009, as well as popular ex-premier Junichiro Koizumi.

Ok. That's interesting. Ozawa is known for having liberal tendencies- in fact, he was one of the most staunch supporters of foreign suffrage, as was Koike before. However, the nationalist lunatic element of politics forced both of them to change course on that topic.

If she really sees Ozawa as a mentor, it really is possible that her nationalist tinge is just for show to get her into office, after which her progressive policies will come into play. Then again, maybe its just wishful thinking, but who knows.

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Zero hay fever? Is she also planning to eliminate all flowers too? What a crock. I'll take her over Abe but not by much anymore.

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Does the writer of this article really hope to differentiate Koike from Abe?

They are both from wealthy backgrounds and privately educated.Had Koike been from Amagasaki and not Ashiya then Ms Sieg (the article's writer) might have been making a valid point.

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Zero hay fever is do able, if the central Government ceased subsidising the planting of pollen releasing species. Propping up the pharmaceutical industry that makes billions from citizens discomfort.

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Zero hay fever? Is she also planning to eliminate all flowers too? What a crock. I'll take her over Abe but not by much anymore.

Most hay fever in Japan is caused by the extensive cedar forests that were planted by govt subsidies and incentives.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Koike showing solidarity for the Black Power movement?

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And how is the Toyosu market scandal being handled?

You know I think there is merit for her move into National politics with respect to this issue.

Ask yourself this - why the Tokyo metro government is in the business of operating a fish market in the first place?

The answer is, because national laws make running fish markets the responsibility of municipalities such as Tokyo.

In other countries, fish markets are operated by commercial operators. If they are operated by commercial operators there is reduced scope for cronyism and such shananegans that went on with respect to the Tsukiji move.

While short-term solutions for the situation are important, the strategic way to deal with problems like Tsukiji / Toyosu is to reform the national laws so that government's role is changed from operating fish markets, to governing and regulating them. (I really don't think the Tokyo government running the remains of Tsukiji as a food theme park will best serve the interests of Tokyoites.)

Alas, Koike hasn't mentioned reform of such laws in her platforms so perhaps your criticism is quite apt.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Tackling rampant nepotism, cronyism, corruption, waistful spending, personal projects with no benefit to the tax payer. Tackle those and a tax reduction could be one the cards.

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Have you even done anything as governor in the last few weeks?

On average, she has worked 6 days a week for the last one year. She is one of the hardest working governors without questions. National politics affect citizens of Tokyo. Japan and Tokyo are not disconnected. What's good for Japan is good for Tokyo, and vise-versa. It's not a zero-sum game.

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The article is nothing but an opinion piece. She's hardly shaken anything up at all because a) she espouses many of the exact same values as the LDP and would still see the Consitution changed as but one example, b) she decided not to run out of fear of losing after having given up her job of power as Tokyo's capital, and like Abe, wants to be running the show (in one position or the other) when the Olympics roll around and besides.

So, now instead of the LDP getting all the votes, you've got two parties splitting them -- and both parties want pretty much the same thing. And that's INSTEAD of having a Democratic-like party; it's ONLY right-wing now. So, what's changed besides there being LESS actual choice in terms of policy? And what does it say about shaking things up when ultimately she has decided not to run in favor of keeping her current position instead of risking losing both that and a potential future PM position?

Shaken things up? I think not. Or at least, no more than shaking a solid object that has zero moving parts inside. Set it down and there's nothing to settle; it's the same as before you shook it.

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Has nobody spoken the word "Yurinomics" out loud? Clue: drop the initial Y and see how it looks/sounds then.

Talk about taking the ____.

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Paradox!? I certainly see the right-wing nationalism but where are these liberal tendencies you speak of? Is it too much to ask a journalist for one example when making such a claim?

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Has nobody spoken the word "Yurinomics" out loud? Clue: drop the initial Y and see how it looks/sounds then.

Talk about taking the ____.

I'm not sure if I agree with what you are saying, but I enjoy the word-play. Well done!

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Koizumi's ex squeeze.  and if she is not a bystander why is she not running ion the elxection?

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If you punch with you thumb in that position you will break your thumb. That would suggest she is only punching the air, not fighting against a failing country under LDP.

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If you punch with you thumb in that position you will break your thumb.

What? If her thumb was tucked inside her fingers, yeah. But it's not. Her thumb would be fine unless she punched with her wrist bent back and hit with her thumb, which would be more likely to break her wrist than her thumb.

That would suggest she is only punching the air, not fighting against a failing country under LDP.

Even if you were correct about her thumb position, it may also just indicate that she's never been in a fist fight and doesn't know the proper way to punch.

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What's good for Japan is good for Tokyo, and vise-versa.

obviously you live in Tokyo lalaland. Tokyo does nothing for Japan, it is egocentric and a bloodsucker.

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