Richard "I Am Not a Crook" Nixon, live in Tokyo

Last night the other Ichiro, not the super hero ballplayer but the sleazy politician, was on TV to give a speech the likes of which have not been seen since the days of America's disgraced former president. Ichiro Ozawa, LDP party born and bred but now chairman of the opposition DPJ party, claimed that the billions of yen in bribes that entered his campaign treasury did not stain his lily white soul.

Mr. Ozawa squeezed a teardrop from one beady eye, and when the cameras failed to catch it--there was only one tiny tear, and observant members of the audience knew it was coming because of the squinty way he kept blinking, trying to force it out--he ostentatiously took out a handkerchief and wiped his by then dry eyes, just to be sure his attempt at penitance was not missed.

It was great theater, even the timing.

Mr. Ozawa spaced his words during his late night press conference to fill up the time until the clock ticked safely past the deadline for filing print media news. In other words, none of the reporters' questions would be reported, only Mr. Ozawa's claim that, because the "people" love him so much, he would bravely carry on and not take responsibility the way normal people in Japan do, by removing himself from his political pedestal.

Who are these "people" who love a crook who can afford to scoff at billions being a "paltry sum" when the rest of us are doing job (and salary) sharing, just to meet the rent and grocery bills?