11/07/28 Public Talk by Ichiro Ozawa and Karel van Wolferen
In 1993, some politicians seeking political reform, left the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) and started the DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan). Karel van Wolferen observes that there were moments for huge political reform after March 11th. However, because of the Japanese immune system which works against changing the status quo, pulling down leaders who might actually be able to change anything. He examined the case of Ozawa in his recent book titled “The Character Assassination of Ichiro Ozawa” (Japanese title: “Who killed Ozawa?”)
In this dialogue, they exchanged views on the following. First is the political situation after March 11th. Second is on how the immune system works against political changes. Third is about the future of the political situation in Japan.
Mr. Worfren sees that people oversees respected the Japanese people after the disaster for having had great dignity, and a sense of order. Japan has great resources, to be such a nation.
Japanese society should progress somewhere, genuine structural change should take place, he observed, but nothing happened. People are frustrated.
The resources are there, but things are not happening.
Mr. Ozawa points out both the good and bad sides he sees. Cooperation and endurance, effort and ability, these are good qualities Japanese people demonstrated after the disaster. On the other hand, as for the nuclear accidents and contamination, a strong national policy was needed, but there wasn’t one. The nation did not even stand up to ask for one. This is a weakness. They hardly raise their voices which shows where the political will is.
Of course, he agrees that Tepco is primarily responsible for the accidents and contamination clean-up, but the situation is far more serious than a company to be able to handle. The government should not be hiding behind the primary responsibility of Tepco, but should come out front to share the responsibility, and take necessary measures. Measures otherwise can not be forced to be taken. At such a moment, discussing the source of the capital is ridiculous. Things that have to be done must be done at any cost. Nuclear contamination must be stopped.
Mr. Wolfren thinks the Kan Government responded quickly initially. Compared with the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995. After half a century of LDP government, the DPJ came into power with political reform and a nation-centered policy as their manifesto. March 11th gave them an oppportunity to dramatically change things, to establish a political system instead of a bureaucracy.
It did not happen.
Why did politician with the political reform movement, from 1993, who had funded DPJ for that matter, not succeed at all?
There was no clear indication to use this opportunity to form a genuine government in Japan. Prime Minister Kan looks as if he thinks he could do it on his own. To think so is impossible. Nobody can do it alone, and what with disaster recovery, which involves a great deal of resettlement of many people, what with the nuclear accidents and at the same time having to deal with maintaining political control over the bureaucracy to make genuine government for the people. It is impossible to be dealt with by one person. There has to be cooperation. Like when they formed a coalition at the time of the Meiji restoration, you needed cooperation. They did not do it alone. They were doing it collectively.
To have a troika, at least three people, he thought was a wonderful idea.
Mr. Ozawa, as he sees it, has the ability to work together with the bureaucracy and to work together with other politicians, to delegate power to other people.
But the media and the bureaucracy want to keep the system as it is, it seems. Government bureaucrats and the mass media are acting ridiculous, speaking objectively. When there is a really talented leadership, the political system works to push him down.
Political leadership is needed, they say. But when it comes, they push it down.
Not because they are bad, the reforms are bad, but because they are very worried about political upheaval. They want to keep the existing order.
That is what he calls the “immune system”.
A member of LDP said if the government bureaucrats put the same principle to all politicians, the Diet would be empty.
He would still be guilty, without any evidence. Few Japanese know the history.
There was to be civilian control during the American occupation after the war. Because they did not trust the justice ministry at the time.
Those citizen councils have been used against minor crimes only.
To take out such a system is a joke. Stop joking with the Japanese nation.
Mr. Ozawa sees that the unique Japanese system which is based on consensus is behind the lack of strong leadership. Harmony is considered precious. With consensus, nobody is responsible. They started together in 1993 to make a policy-led government, not bureaucracy-led. Although the DPJ was given the chance to be in power, some saw it as worse than the LDP. An unusual situation needs strong political will to be overcome. Politicians should be responsible and take the stakes. Japan needs a strong policy to overcome this disaster.
Mr. Uesugi questioned why “Troika” did not come true.
Mr. Ozawa commented that everybody in power should do what they must and be responsible. But the Prime Minister has huge power, so he should say and do what he thinks is right and take responsibility for that. Top leaders should take responsibility. If not, nobody will follow. If politicians are liars, that’s the end of the story.
Mr. Uesugi further question about Prime Minister Kan, why he had not yet resigned.
Mr. Ozawa responded that the cause of the situation was an ambiguity of words and communication, of decision making and responsibility. Japanese decision-making works like that, no vote, if there is a minority against the consensus, they will decide without the representation of such an opinion.
No conclusion, no one is hurt. Such a communication system has to be changed. Japanese should learn to decide, and take that decision seriously and keep to it, once it being decided.
Mr. Wolfren suggested to the Japanese citizenry to take some action regarding government bureaucrats, since they are not elected, and hence don’t represent the public. It is the same for the mass media. This could be brought to the Ministry of Justice.It should be made clear through public actions that they don’t represent the public. To make such petition heard, a lot of noise is necessary. Surrounding the petition, noise will be important.
Do not become complacent. Since there is another crisis coming internationally.
The post WWII financial system is going to end. That will have tremendous repercussions in Japan.
At such a time of change, the Japanese nation cannot drift without political leadership. These are not just words, this is the reality.
The Japanese people deserve much better than they are getting now.
Mr. Ozawa stressed the importance of this comment. He warned that if Japan is not prepared, it will fall into a chaos.
(Translation: Naoko Kakuta, Jeremy Harley)
<Tepco Shareholders Annual Meeting, June 28, 2011To the previous articleTo the following articlesThe children of Fukushima negotiate directly with the person in charge of the measure after a nuclear power plant disaster, Aug 17, 2011>