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The Heisei Reformation

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s first speech to a plenary session of both houses of the Diet delivered recently was a clear statement of bold intentions. He noted that decades of cronyism, corruption, and secretive policy-making have created widespread distrust of politics in Japan. In response, he announced plans for greater transparency, with ministerial decision-making under collective cabinet responsibility as well as the involvement of citizens in making policy proposals. A new and more equal relationship between central and regional governments is to be created, and senior civil servants will be banned from taking post-retirement posts in private sector bodies with which they have had official dealings. In economic policy, the Prime Minister intends to legislate against lenders’ practice of denying or foreclosing loans to small and medium-sized businesses, which he called the real strength of the Japanese economy. He has also pledged Japan to reaching a 25 per cent cut in its 1990 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

Above all, his speech signalled a desire for the Japanese state to reconnect with voters and for the Japanese people to reconnect with one another. The government will provide indirect support to the growing number of local voluntary bodies and non-profit organisations to enhance community building. It will end age discrimination in health care for the elderly. There will be additional state benefits for single-mother households, and a child allowance. Public high school education will be free of charge. And gender equality is to be promoted actively. Much, of course, will depend on the state of the economy. Mr. Hatoyama argues that his policies will provide stable growth led by domestic demand. Inevitably, criticism has focussed on the costs of the social aims and the lack of specifics on economic policy. Unsurprisingly, the opposition Liberal Democratic Party called Mr. Hatoyama’s speech “sentimental,” presumably for his espousal of yuai or fraternity. On the foreign policy front, the new government will face tough challenges. Mr. Hatoyama wants to end Japan’s post-war subservience to the United States, and the U.S. military presence on Okinawa is a sensitive issue. Nevertheless, given the widespread public disillusionment with the old ways, he has a fine opportunity to transform Japanese politics. If he achieves the Heisei Reformation (which he mentioned in his speech, referring to the era of the current Emperor), Prime Minister Hatoyama will be seen as one of the defining figures of modern Japan.

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