A Change in the Weather

Rain, at last, and a respite from record-breaking summer temperatures!

The cooler weather coincided with a vote to choose the leader of Japan's Minshuto (Democratic Party). Since the Minshuto holds a majority in Congress, the new party leader would automatically become Japan's Prime Minister. The winner is the incumbent, Naoto Kan.

When I wrote about Japan's first-ever, postwar, rotation of the majority/minority political parties (Japan's Road to Popular Empowerment, Adams Press, 2001), the book was subtitled "The Story So Far". In that book, Mr. Kan was given a brief mention as a minority party grassroots organizer in Okayama Prefecture. Now he has become a two-term Prime Minister.

Whether he is good, bad, or indifferent as the top leader remains to be seen. What is important to notice is that a new set of characters is moving into the top positions in Japan.

The times, they are a'changing.

Cautiously Optimistic

As I reported in my book Japan's Road to Popular Empowerment in 2000, the first time the government changed hands, the main benefit of ousting a long time ruling party is that a new set of people takes over the ministries and opens windows on deep, dark secrets.

This is happening now. You can read about it in today's Japan Times online. http://tinyurl.com/yccjqag

It's the part about Okinawa that especially interests me. I still remember a colleague on the Mainichi Newspapers being hounded out of his fast track reporting career because he suggested the reversion of Okinawa was not exactly as advertised. It turns out he was right all along.

Now that he's in his 70's, is someone going to turn back the clock and give him back his life? I don't think so.