politics

Toru Hashimoto: Japan's would-be kingmaker

27 Comments
By Miwa Suzuki

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2012 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

27 Comments
Login to comment

This man scares the hell outta me and I would fear for Japan if he or someone like him became the PM or took over another highly important spot.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

An incomplete profile: you forgot to mention his extramarital affair with a hostess. Also he told a group of new civil servants that they must accept that they have given up their privacy and human rights in order to work for the people. This man and his ally Ishihara in Tokyo are dangerous right wingers who look back to the days of Japanese Imperialism as the glory days. This is the restoration his new party seeks.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

once allegedly offered on air to impregnate a TV personality

now what is this about? who are they referring to? I would like to know.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"What Japanese politics needs now is dictatorship-the power enough to be called 'dictatorship,'" Hashimoto said last year, while adding that power needs to be checked by local assemblies, voters and the mass media.

Of course Hashimoto is the only man qualified for the job of "Dictator." LOL.

"A dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier, there's no question about it." - George W. Bush

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

"no to -various-... these sweet words" = probably a bad translation

jpns uses the word for sweet taste to mean immature or naive. This case naive.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"dictatorship checked by the media and voters"

Contrary to what I imagine my fellow jt-ers will think, I do believe the voters have the power/ will to check him. Everyone I know over 45 here talks about all the violent protests in the 60s and 70s and other participation by average folk. However The media, is little more than a collective yes-man, except for the scandal rags, which are decent for real news. Everyone will rely on the internet tho.

My prediction, jpns to a certain extent really like a leader who tells them what to do, seems strong, and are excited by someone who stirs things up, so he will be popular at first. Then more and more ppl will see him as an idiot and he will little by little be marginalized, w/o ever really accomplishing much. I actually see the kabal at the top- big business, keidanren, pushing him out/ limiting his power if he doesn't conform to their ideals/ or seems too difficult to control.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

: corporate lawyer advising companies at the grubby end of personal finance—a sector filled with businesses offering loans at punishingly high interest rates." commonly know as loan sharking, mostly with ties to organised crime. But wait ,it states he lost his father, "—his estranged father reportedly killed himself over debts to fellow small-time gangsters" owing money to the same people he represented as a lawyer. ?????

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I'm still trying to figure out where the so-called 'boyish charm' is.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

What Japanese politics needs now is dictatorship;

He was not kidding. . I hope Japanese voters are smart enough to know the difference between dictatorship to leadership.

Well, he is seriously planning to add his name on the list listed below.

1)Adolf Hitler (Germany)

2)Joseph Stalin (USSR)

3)Mao Zedong (China)

4)Pol Pot (Cambodia)

5)King Leopold II (Belgium)

6)Kim Jong ll (North Korea)

7)Muammar al-Gaddafi (Libya)

8)Idi Amin Dada (Uganda)

9)Omar Al-Bashir (Sudan)

10)Saddam Heusein (Iraq)

11)Toru Hashimoto

1 ( +2 / -1 )

If he gets his way, I easily see the US breaking ties with JP and JP will be in a lot of trouble with neighboring nations. This guy is looking for trouble. He is one of the most dangerous types. He likes to control from behind the scenes. In his plan, he doesnt want to be the prime minister because they can be voted out or their terms will finish. But being the man behind the PM can empower him forever.

Bad timing indeed.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

A sweaty, loudmouthed philanderer who used to work for loan sharks, many of whom are affiliated with gangsters. I can't see the appeal myself.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

He is a typical populist demagogue. No one can seriously believe that any real political change will occur in Japan. The entrenched, systemic malaise in all branches of the government won't be overcome by one bully-boy. The initial step Japan must take is end the 'weighted-electorate' system that invests so much power in the conservative rural seats. That would help more changes in ruling party at elections; then you might see a few changes occur in the bureaucracy.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

minello7Sep. 17, 2012 - 10:02AM JST

: corporate lawyer advising companies at the grubby end of personal finance—a sector filled with businesses offering loans at punishingly high interest rates." commonly know as loan sharking, mostly with ties to organised crime. But wait ,it states he lost his father, "—his estranged father reportedly killed himself over debts to fellow small-time gangsters" owing money to the same people he represented as a lawyer. ?????

Good catch, minello. Corporate lawyer is the least respected in USA. They are working for profit, not for civil liberty. They will sell you for a dime.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Cockroaches are great!

If that is how to survival is Japan being a nation on earth, may God help them, the people there were too miserables!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

It seems that being the PM of Japan is depend on how much outspoken like a talk show hosting instead of political experiences and skills! And if Mr Hasimoto really means being a dictator h edhoulf has his own inter intelligences service like the 'STASI' of former east germany and he is prepared to be the next Eric Honnecker of japan! Is he ready to throw all the other political parties in Japan to jail and a propaganda service to make a personal cult like the North Korean leader Kim JonIl, if he does! If not, his claim is just another political hoax ruining the nation of Japan

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Typical far-right loon. Japan has not learned its lesson from WW2... Japan is going down for sure.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@Thomas Anderson: And if Mr Hasimoto's doctrine has come true, that means the Japanese public has gave up hope of their nation's recovery!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I told ya, he and his nationalistic (militaristic) Restoration party will be successful among voters. Japan will want war with its neighbors but it will be Japan's downfall.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Japan had decades of the old right LDP ruling party in the government. What do you expect?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

typical Japan, people get swayed by anyone who has something to say, even if it's utter rubbish. Stuck with a government without ideas, politicians without a personality or a backbone....people will admire anyone who form a likely opposite. Clowns like hashimoto, ishihara and koizumi are a result of this phenomena... Each country gets the government they deserve and that's why akb 48 loving Japan has its kindergarten government.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I thought we had slim choices in America with our politicians, but this guy seems to take the cake. Be careful Japan voters in what you wish for, you may just get it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A cockroach sounds like a color self-description of himself (Mssr. Hashimoto). But then again, I have never heard a cockroach speak..

1 ( +1 / -0 )

jpns to a certain extent really like a leader who tells them what to do, seems strong, and are excited by someone who stirs things up, so he will be popular at first. Then more and more ppl will see him as an idiot and he will little by little be marginalized, w/o ever really accomplishing much. I actually see the kabal at the top- big business, keidanren, pushing him out/ limiting his power if he doesn't conform to their ideals/ or seems too difficult to control.

Lowlys comment above is spot on. Hashimotos ascent is in the manner of a social experiment that the ruling cliques are prepared to go along with up to a point. He will be indulged and aided just so long as he limits his activities to laudable objectives such as reforming the moribund political system and reinvigorating Japan`s languishing "hungry seishin" . Attacking him on the the basis of his potential for being the next dictator seems rather premature.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Loose. Canon.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

First, I'll have to give JT credit for a piece of journalistic copy that actually deserves to be "in print".

Someone seems to be up to sped presently regarding the clear and present what ever you want to call it regarding this poseurs rise to political prominence.

Part of the reason for his success, of course, is the so-called "heiwaboke" (平和ボケ) phenomenon to which many politically aware Japanese will point. It is a type of complacency, basically, and the positive reception of this crude sociopath would to some extent seem to be attributable to a growing segment of the population that is being awakened to the realities at hand due to pressing circumstances.

Unfortunately, he certainly does not represent the values and policies that would help the country recuperate and find its way back to the future.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

“Cockroaches are great,” he told a town meeting in 2010. “When you approach them, they dash off even though they have no eyes on their back. They have a great sense of crisis and we have to share the same sense of crisis.”

So vote for this man would you ? First sign of a crisis and he'll be up and running, saving his own assests !

2 ( +2 / -0 )

This PUTZ shud do like the cockroaches GO AWAY!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites