At The Monkey Cage, a group blog authored by four political science professors at George Washington University, John Sides dissects surveys that attempt to illustrate just how much (or little) Americans know about politics.He points to a study that shows that respondents who were given more time to respond and/or a financial reward for correct …
Year: 2008
More on Koizumi’s address
Yamamoto Ichita, reformist LDP member of the House of Councillors from Gunma-ken, writes at his blog that journalists and other members of the Diet have contacted asking him to explain what Mr. Koizumi's intention was in his Friday remarks.He says:You might say that the average person cannot understand the thinking of a political genius. (Laughter.) …
A Koizumi comeback in the making?
On Thursday I wrote that the fight within the LDP over administrative reform may be an opportunity for marginalized Koizumians to regain influence within the party.It appears that they may be getting some heavyweight support: from Koizumi Junichiro himself.Sankei observes that in the new year, Mr. Koizumi has been more active on behalf of his …
Ishiba will fight on, with Fukuda’s help
Far from abandoning Defense Minister Ishiba Shigeru to his critics, Prime Minister Fukuda made clear today that he stands with Mr. Ishiba in emphasizing the need for fundamental reform of the Defense Ministry. The Atago incident, instead of spelling the end of Mr. Ishiba's second tour of duty in Ichigaya, may end up bolstering it …
Day of reflection
Today is the USFJ's "Day of Reflection," during which US military personnel at bases throughout Japan will spend the day of reflecting on their behavior and hearing lectures about improving their discipline.If anyone reading this is a member of the US Armed Forces stationed in Japan who participated in the Day of Reflection, I am …
Back to Japan, again
I just want to let those of you in Japan know that I'll be over for a couple weeks from next Wednesday.I have met a number of my readers over the past year, and have enjoyed every meeting. If you are interested, by all means email me at Observingjapan@gmail.com. If I get enough responses I …
Ishiba under fire from all sides
It looks like the Ministry of Defense's civilians and the JSDF may not have to fight Defense Minister Ishiba after all.In the aftermath of the collision between the Atago, one of the MSDF's most sophisticated Aegis-equipped destroyers, and a fishing boat on Tuesday, questions have been raised about the vulnerabilities of MSDF ships to terrorist …
Administrative reform is a wedge issue after all
In this post earlier this month, I asked whether administrative reform, the subject of a private consultative commission at the Kantei, was the ideal wedge issue for the DPJ to wield against the LDP.At the time, the DPJ had yet to elevate the issue to the top of its talking points. It appears, however, that …
Continue reading Administrative reform is a wedge issue after all
A national embarrassment
US Forces Japan (USFJ) has issued orders that from today personnel attached to bases in Okinawa and Iwakuni are, for the time being, forbidden from leaving their bases except for a small handful of activities. The restrictions apply to approximately 55,000 people, covering both 29,000 members of the Armed Forces and their dependents.USFJ has also …
Recommended Book: Democracy Without Competition in Japan, Ethan Scheiner
"First-rate economics, third-rate politics."This phrase has long been shorthand for the LDP's half-century of nearly uninterrupted rule, despite corruption and high levels of unpopularity among the Japanese people (although of late there might be some convergence between economics and politics).Japanese and non-Japanese scholars have concocted numerous explanations for the LDP's enduring hold on power. Some …
Continue reading Recommended Book: Democracy Without Competition in Japan, Ethan Scheiner
Tobias S. Harris 