The Politics of Japan Flashcards
1
Q
Overview of Japan’s rise
A
- Postwar reindustrialisation in record time
- Very high standard of living
- 1975-1989: High point of economic and political stability and growth
- 1990-: The Lost Decade(s)
Notable: massive contrast before/after 1990
1980: economic growth, political stability and growing cultural clout and self-confidence
1990s and after: economic stagnation, political ossification and lack of self-confidence
2
Q
Political themes in Japan 1945-present
A
- Legacy of war/imperialism
- Constitution(al revision)
- Relations with west and Asia
- Atomic energy/nuclear weapons
- Gender inequality
- Powerful bureaucracy
- “The Iron Triangle”
- Declining birthrate
3
Q
The Political System
A
- From 1880s: first western style government in Asia
- At first: parliamentary system modelled on Bismarck’s Prussia
- Postwar: multiparty system with free elections
- 1946: Women’s vote
- Parliament largely similar to other democratic countries
- Though with unique system of vote distribution
- Unusual: “one party dominant” system
4
Q
Three pillars of the Japanese Constitution (1947)
A
- Democracy
- Pacifism
- Rights & duties
5
Q
Aspects of the 1947 constitution
A
- Replaced quasi-absolute monarchy with liberal democracy
- Drafted under supervision of SCAP
- Significant input from Japanese liberal and pacifist politicians
- Hard to amend: 2/3 majority both houses plus referendum
6
Q
Summary of Article 9
A
- No foreign wars
- No armed forces
- Self-defence
7
Q
Interpretation of article 9: Japan Self Defence Forces (JSDF)
A
- Founded in 1954
- Ground Defence Force (Army), Air Self-Defence Force (Air Force) and Maritime Defence Force (Navy)
- 8th largest military budget in the world
- But constrained by constitution, only to be used for defence and peace keeping missions
- From 2001: joins international counter-terrorism effort
- Last 20 years numerous legal changes allow JSDF to move beyond defence, for example in anti-piracy missions
8
Q
1951: Security Treaty Between the US and Japan (“Anpo”)
A
- Unrestricted use of bases for US military
- Security guarantee (US will safeguard Japan)
- Complete control US over Okinawa (changed in 1972)
- Japan’s military activities abroad restricted
9
Q
“Anpo”: Reverberations permeate modern Japanese politics
A
- Especially continued presence of US army highly contentious
- 50k US troops in Japan today
- Example: Okinawa bases
10
Q
Japan’s political system: The Emperor
A
- Akihito (Heisei reign 1989 - 2019)
- Naruhito (Reiwa reign 2019-)
– Acts as symbol of the state
– Very few formal powers
– Ceremonial role
– No advisory role
– Must act on advice of Prime Minister and Cabinet
11
Q
Japan’s political system: The Diet
A
- Bicameral legislature (Two houses):
- House of Councillors
– 242 seats
– Six-year term (half elected every three years)
– Cannot be dissolved prematurely - House of Representatives
– 475 seats
– Four-year term
– Can be dissolved prematurely
– Can issue a resolution of no confidence in the Cabinet
– Must be dissolved by the Emperor on advice of Prime Minister
12
Q
Diet: House of Representatives
A
- Most powerful of the two chambers
- Candidates elected through complex blend of Proportional Representation and First Past the Post Constituency system
- Due to lack of Proportional Representation, rural votes carry more weight
13
Q
Japan’s political system: The Prime Minister and Cabinet
A
- Prime Minister nominally appointed by the Emperor
- Prime Minister selects and removes ministers in the cabinet
The Cabinet:
- A majority of cabinet ministers must come from the Diet
- Cabinet members serve while concurrently Diet members
- All cabinet ministers must be civilians
14
Q
Kishida Fumio as Prime Minister Sept 2021-
A
- LDP
- Former Foreign Minister
- Relatively moderate and centrist
- Some economic redistribution to middle class
- Not very interested in changing Article 9
- Hiroshima roots -> very involved with nuclear non-proliferation
- International focus on containing China and North Korea, having strong ties with west
- Improvement of relations with South Korea
15
Q
Japan’s political system: The Supreme Court
A
- Head of the Supreme Court:
– Designated by the Cabinet, appointed by the Emperor
– Appoints other members of the judiciary
– Judicial review (rarely exercised)
16
Q
Political parties
A
- Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
– Ideologically divided between mainstream conservatives and anti-mainstream conservatives
– Some slightly more progressive factions as well - (Former) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
– Declined since Hatoyama’s term in government
– Two successor parties - Constitutional Democratic Party (CDPJ)
– Successor party of the DPJ
– Centre/centre-left party
– Main opposition party today - Komeito
– Derives from quasi-Buddhist movement Soka Gakkai
– Conservative but pacifist
– Often in coalition with LDP - Japanese Communist Party
– Has played an important role in Japanese history
– Pacifist constitution
– Anti-nuclear energy - Japan Innovation Party
– Changed its name several times; mergers
– Bit controversial
– Conservative/far-right
17
Q
The “1955 System”
A
- Mergers of parties on left and right lead to two main dominant parties:
– Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
– Japan Socialist Party (JSP) - AKA ‘one-and-a-half party system’ because of LDP dominance
18
Q
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
A
- Main conservative/right-wing party
- But always had more progressive wing as well
- Issue of contention within party: relations with US and neighbours
- Continuously in power 1955-1993
- Still mostly in power until now
- Power base in countryside
- Ultimate power machine with extremely close ties to business, bureaucracy and the media
19
Q
Japan Socialist Party (JSP) 1955-1990s
A
- Main opposition party
- Factional infighting between far-left and moderate factions
- Issue of contention within party: relations with US and Asian neighbours
- In 1960 the moderate faction splits off: Democratic Socialist Party
- Very influential in terms of setting debate and providing alternative vision for Japan’s future
- But never more than 1/3 of seats in parliament
- From 1990s the party slowly disintegrates
20
Q
The “1955 System”: First Postwar Party System 1955-1993
A
- Continuous LDP dominance
- One large opposition party JSP unable to gain more than 1/3 seats in House of Representatives
21
Q
The Failure of the JSP
A
- Strong Marxist ideology a bridge too far for public, too risky in Cold War environment
- Continuous economic growth 1950-1990 convinced people of virtues of capitalism
- Could not convince other opposition to join anti-LDP front, plus very divided in own ranks
- Flexibility of LDP positions
22
Q
The “1955 System”: Second Postwar Party System 1993-present
A
- First non-LDP government
- LDP still predominant party until 2009
- But strong opposition party emerges in 1990s: Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
23
Q
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 1998-2016
A
- Merger of several opposition parties, from conservative to social-democrat
- But generally moderately progressive policy proposals
- Main draw: new type of leadership (For example: more women)
24
Q
DPJ Government 2009-2012
A
- Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio elected on promise of weakening the powerful bureaucracy: change politico-bureaucratic relations
- Also attempted change in Japan-US security relationship / re-set relations within Asia
- Major plans to overhaul bureaucracy and government:
– Political control of ministries and more input from people
– Abolish the “vice-ministerial meetings”
– Prohibit bureaucrats from making political decisions
25
Q
Successes and failures of the DPJ Government 2009-2012
A
- Successes:
– Some degree of free public schooling
– Some increase in childcare support
– Expanded unemployment insurance
– More regulations regarding part-time and temporary work - Failures:
– Legislative productivity very low
– Continuous infighting
– Obstinacy from bureaucrats
– No breakthrough with US regarding Okinawa bases
– Mismanagement aftermath Fukushima disaster 2011
26
Q
DPJ Government 2009-2012: What went wrong?
A
- DPJ political appointees with very limited policy-making experience handled most policy coordination among ministries
- Bureaucratic networks highly obstinate
- DPJ Prime Minister Kan (2010-2011) already reversed a lot of the changes
- General view emerges that DPJ is not capable of effective governance
- Bad luck: DPJ in power during Fukushima nuclear disaster March 2011
27
Q
Successors of DPJ 2016-2020
A
- Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan
- Democratic Party for the People
28
Q
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP)
A
- Late 2020: merger of CDP, DPP, and Social Democratic Party (SDP)
- Now the main opposition party
- Leader: Izumi Kenta
- Some positions:
– Pro-Article 9
– Phasing out of nuclear energy
– Government investment in renewable energy
– Support LGBT rights and same-sex marriage
29
Q
Effects of postwar LDP dominance
A
- Positive
– Stable rule led to postwar economic miracle
– Produced leaders capable of ruling
– True: LDP flexible in following public opinion - Negative
– Corruption: political elite, bureaucracy, and business are intertwined (along with a lot of media)
– Opposition views never represented through government
– Stagnation: no need to address structural economic and social problems
30
Q
Japan’s Elite: The Iron Triangle
A
- LDP politicians
- Bureaucrats
- Big business executives
31
Q
Amakudari
A
- Retiring high-ranking government officials taking a lucrative job in a private or semi-private corporation
- Descent from heaven (orig. meaning)
32
Q
Abe Shinzo as Prime Minister 2006-7 2012-2020
A
- “Abenomics”
– Monetary easing
– Fiscal stimulus
– Structural reforms - Constitutional revision
– Settled for “reinterpretation” - Controversial:
– Nationalism
– Desire to revise constitution - But secret to success: pragmatism
33
Q
Features of Abe Shinzo as Prime Minister 2006-7 2012-2020
A
- Positive
– Moved away from endless self-criticism over the war
– Boosted Japan’s global standing with pragmatic foreign policy
– Reinterpretation constitution was long overdue
– Strong focus on economic revival
– Bold multilateral trade agreements - Negative
– Downplayed Japan’s war history
– Needlessly alienated neighbours with “reinterpretation” constitution and nationalist rhetoric
– Exacerbated domestic corruption and inequality
– Endangers nation by pursuing nuclear energy
– GDP actually lower than in 2013
34
Q
Conclusive points on Abe Shinzo as Prime Minister 2006-7 2012-2020
A
- Massive electoral success: due to pragmatism in economic matters
- Domestic economy was always priority, for him and for voters
- Despite right-wing ideological views, actually shied away from ideology most of the time
- Despite nationalist rhetoric, always refrained from going too far internationally
- Stable and prolonged leadership greatly helped Japan’s international standing
- Important successes: Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Japan-EU Trade Agreement
- BUT Abenomics had no real influence on Japan’s structural economic weakness
- BUT Womenomics proved just a slogan, no noticeable difference for women at all
- AND morally speaking his stance on “The History Issue” remains appalling
35
Q
“Womenomics”
A
- PM Abe (2012-2020): “Society where women shine”
- Aimed at promoting women to leadership positions
- Main concern about position women: economic repercussions and low birthrate
- Criticism: tokenism and stalling of bills that could actually create change
- GDP boost of 13% if gender gap is closed
36
Q
Women and Politics in Japan: Koike Yuriko
A
- Tokyo Governor 2016-
- Ex-LDP
- Focus on women’s issues and environmentalism
- But also a conservative nationalist
- Very popular in Tokyo: re-elected with 59% of vote in 2020
37
Q
Women and politics in Japan: The Parliament
A
- Female parliamentarians: 10% (46 out of 465 seats)
- By far lowest in industrial world
- Global average: 26.5%
- World nr. 164 (out of 186)
- Regional comparison: China, ROK, and DPRK all higher percentages
- East Asian champion: Taiwan 42.5% (nr. 21)
38
Q
Professional Position of Women
A
- Relatively large part of workforce: 71.5% in some kind of employment; 43.6% full-time
- Problem is with nature of part-time work
- And the difference between regular and non-regular workers
- 77% of those in part-time and non-regular work are women
- Average woman has income of 40% less than average man
- World Economic Forum: Japan ranked 104 in gender equality (out of 142)
39
Q
Concrete problems of the professional position of women
A
- Long working hours
- Lack of daycare facilities
- “Matahara” = Maternity Harassment
40
Q
Japan after the Bubble
A
- Several “Lost Decades” have led to crisis of confidence
- Stark contrast exuberant 1980s with following decades
- Structural economic issues and demographic timebomb endlessly lamented but never resolved
- Last decades have seen rise in more ugly Japanese nationalism, however this is definitely not a majority sentiment
- Despite all this: Japan is in many ways a thriving and stable middle-class society
- In 1980s “Japan as Nr.1” rhetoric was overblown, but so is today’s pessimistic view
- The “History Issue” has led to highly problematic relations within East Asia and can be considered perhaps Japan’s greatest international challenge today
