2002  March

The Limit of Japanese social Distortion [020311-20]

Mr. Muneo Suzuki was summoned as a witness to Japanese national assembly, today. It may be a turning point for Japanese politics, which has been ruled by old type of human relationship.

It is clear that the most important reason of Japanese long recession is the defect of Japanese politics. Japanese businessmen, especially manufactures, had been excellent, but their politic have been worst. The part of people, who have some interests in it, have been ruled Japanese politic, while most of people have been indifferent to it. Muneo Suzuki, who was summoned, is typical member of the Diet who leads interests for the traders in his electoral distinct.

Before the appearance of Prim Minister Koizumi, topics of Diet have not obtained so much concern among Japanese people. However, with serious economic recession, they could not keep their ignorance to Japanese politic. How enormous money, tax, has been spending for useless public enterprises? What kind of laws members of Diet should introduce? Japanese people ask statesmen at last.

Though they sensed the distortion of politic by private interests by politicians, what Mr. Suzuki did is beyond their imagination. He is now called of ‘The Department Store or The General Trading of suspicion’. He leaded national interest to the companies that supported him by political donations. Also he hired an African as a private secretary illegally. But what we are surprised are his abnormal relation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He ruled it just privately! When sometimes someone resisted him according to the principle of law, he stroked him with angry.

Mr. Suzuki was very active in the relation with Russia There is radical problem of territory between Russia and Japan. The four islands located the north of Hokkaido (north main island of Japan) are now occupied by Russia illegally from the stand point of Japan. Japanese government has insisted to Russia that they are Japanese territory and return them to Japan. Mr. Suzuki also has supported the standpoint of Japanese position, at least, publicly. Nevertheless, it is reported that he denied this position privately for his own interest.

Japan supports many developing countries. But he utilized this support for his own interest. He built some institutions in the four islands. But not only that, he related to some important projects in Africa. For him the problem of territory seems no more than hindrance of his interest. The report says he cried in the front of the member of the Foreign Ministry that we do not need north territories (islands) and Japanese government adhere to them for the national face.

Most Japanese people sensed the corruption as found in the relation between him and the Foreign Ministry. This affair should be recognized in the series of matters concerning Japanese social organizations. Already I referred in other topic, the problem of Yukijisushi to pretend the cattle-breeding district is typical. Also the corruption had been pointed out in other ministries like the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

 Here we must consider the fact that Japanese people cannot believe in social organizations as they did. With the collapse of lifetime employment, they lost the base to rely in their social life. In Shyuntou (The annual spring wage bargaining round), Japanese labors used to get their wage raise every year, but now not. They managed to sure the present wage level and it is hard for some labors even to secure their place of work. During the period when social organizations keep their lives, they could overlook the distortion of the society. But now they cannot. They will not survive without righting it.

After Mr. Suzuki’s down fall, the target of blame will shift to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It made a disclosure of inner secret documents to push aside Mr. Suzuki. But it rather made clear how this Ministry is corrupted. The interruption by members of Diet to Ministries will disappear after now. However, it may allow the more corruption of bureaucracy. To prevent it, new balanced political system between legislative, administration and judiciary is demanded.

However, it does not mean that the reformation is limited in the level of organization. The reformation of Japanese usual communication is essential. Considering the reason why L.D.P. (Liberal Democratic Party) have been able to be the ruling party in Japan, the ultimate responsibility of these corruptions in Japan should be attribute to Japanese people who have supported this party in spite of corruptions of long standing. Some people have utilized and others have ignored it. Even now, many Japanese hope the reformation of L.D.P. But it shows their spiritual weakness to avoid changing society. L.D.P. must disappear from the history of Japanese politic. After extinction of this party, Japanese people can discuss radical political problems including the amendment of Japanese constitution.

Unfortunately, because of the existence of L.D.P., Democratic Party that is the leading opposite party must contain too various people who are contradictory each other. Some support the amendment of constitution and active military support to U.S., but others oppose it. This confusion in this party is the reason why it cannot attract people. Already there is Liberal Party in Japan, which represents the position that Japanese constitution should be amended. Also there are Communist Party and Social Democratic Party in left wing. Some other parties, which participate in ruling side except L.D.P., are needless. Japanese political balance should be maintained between three powers in opposite side.

L.D.P. is the party that contains Japanese old type of politic. Though it can be found every country, private interests have polluted Japanese politic against public way of communicating. The people who are too familiar with closed community tend to ignore the public standpoint and regard the interest for their community as ethical. Mr. Suzuki is also this type of person.
 

 Japanese Foreign Ministry [020325-27]

Thank for the Mr. Suzuki’s event, I recognized why Japanese the Foreign Ministry lack the sense of diplomacy. Considering the unnatural Japanese position that it depend on most of military defense by U.S. army in spite of its constitution to demand peace extremely, I had not understood why Japanese diplomacy does not have the spirit of independency. I was surprised to hear that the officials of the Ministry had been threaten by Mr. Suzuki’s big voice.

On the other hand, Japanese Foreign Ministry leaked information for its self-protection. Once it is definite that Mr. Suzuki will not be able to gain his power, it disclosed secret record about him. This record noticed his remark about Japanese northern territory. Also it exposed disadvantage information for former Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Makiko Tanaka, and drove her into a corner. The information contains the content of diplomatic negotiations. This Ministry can sell its own country for itself.

It represents how Japanese people depend on the organization to which they belong. They lost the sense of public and the spirit of independency. It is said that Japan is a dependency of U.S., but it will contain some truth for a while.