The current administration has forgotten the reason why the DPJ was elected in 2009.

Politicians telling people what they want to hear just to get elected???? Say it an't so!

As slimy as Ozawa is, at least he is against raising the consumption tax.

Politicians make promises to get elected. Then after elected they fail to follow through.

In other news, University studies have recently discovered that if you eat too much and don't exercise, you might gain weight.

I believe they started well, by digging into the wasteful spending of previous governments, and it was all open too, with Ren Ho and Edano doing a fine job. Then Hatoyama lost the plot, and started spewing all kinds of ridiculous stuff. Kan stepped in and calmed things down a bit, but the damage was already done, the opposition had enough material for a whole conference and constant damage limitation was required (oddly enough, there were even attacks from within the party (especially Ozawa)). Kan was then blown apart by the Earthquake and ensuing disasters, and remained way too far away fro it all to be seen to be in charge which left us with Noda, who if we let him get on with the job would probably start changing things. Sadly, the opposition outnumbers them now, and Ozawa is just playing games and trying to force the hand to make it HIS turn. In reality, he doesn't have the answers. He isn't saying what the solution is, just that what is happening now is wrong, and tugging those heart strings of voters by saying that the government is breaking its promise to you. Baloney! And there is a reason the deficit is ramping up right now - I wonder what it could be??

Current national debt has increased by more than 30% since the DPJ took office

How much does it cost to rebuild a region?

Zichi It rose above Italy (the worst at the time??) in the late 90's and kept climbing. It will rise further becuase of the rebuilding. What, if anything, has that got to do with the title of the story? And why is the biggest rise (2008-9) not cause for concern? Don't forget that debt is struck when bonds are issued so there is always a lag. You decide the budget, then issue bonds to realise the money.

I'm concerned by your calculations though. Where did you find numbers that say it has risen 30%? You sure it isn't a rise from 220 - 250%? That isn't a 30% rise, it is less than 14%.

They HAVE been trying to cut the fat out, and deserve some credit for ending some wild scams that defy rational thinking. Unfortunately, they aren't perfect, and armchair critics have very high standards.

and armchair critics have very high standards Not aimed at you btw! Sorry - sounds like a cheap shot!

Zichi- Good comments as usual. I would like to know how much of the budget. still goes into wasteful construction and other things.

Just before the DPJ came into office, the national debt was about 150% of GNP and now it's 228%, that's an enormous increase, and it's everything to do with the post headline since one general election promise was to reduce debt and government spending. I don't know why this has happened.

Zichi - PLEASE let me know where you get the figures from. When DPJ arrived in 2009 it was 220%, now it is two hundred and forty something percent (worse than your numbers!). Source Eurostat.

Don't forget that each government inherits the mess from previous one. Hence no one is truly held responsible for their own mess. Previous administration was out of control, but lets not forget that there aren't the party divisions like you would experience in EU or the Americas - everyone is centre, and has probably been in the same party as the "opposition" at some point.