Left Flank

Before the avalanche of nationalistic gripes by governments about how former PM Yasuo Fukuda has undone their plans for dealing with Japan, Japan Observer defends Fukuda.

Fukuda clearly understands how Japan has to change; indeed, he may understand better than just about everyone in the LDP, Mr. Koizumi included. (I'm inclined to agree with Masuzoe Yoichi's description of Mr. Koizumi as a better destroyer than builder - Japan at this point needs the latter just as much as it needs the former.) When he spoke of the hardships facing the Japanese people, I did not question his sincerity.

The problem is that he faced a political situation that would have stumped all but the ablest of politicians, which Mr. Fukuda is not. I think that he would have been a huge success had he followed Mr. Koizumi in 2006, being more of a builder than Mr. Koizumi and probably being better liked by the public than Mr. Koizumi. I don't mean loved or admired in the way that Mr. Koizumi was, like a rock idol, but rather someone who the public would have trusted to listen to them, to be frank with them, and to do his best to address his concerns and begin the hard work of building a new Japanese system for the twenty-first century. Even Mr. Koizumi, for all his popularity, did not enjoy a relationship like that with the public - as suggested by scornful remarks about his policy legacy.

And now, it starts.

Washington has its Japan shopping list.

Fukuda's resignation might have been very well-timed indeed. The lenghtened session could even act as a sort of punishment to New Komeito for its lack of loyalty. A longer session would also allow for the fifty-nining of at least one or two of the contentious, deadlock-inducing measures due to face the Diet this Fall, not least of which would be the Indian Ocean refueling mission, up for renewal again, which US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently urged Japan to continue on her visit here.

I love this comment by a South Korean academic about the delicate state of Japan-ROK relations.

Some are worried that relations could turn sourer amid reports that Taro Aso, a former foreign minister known as being more conservative than Fukuda, will take over the post, while others are taking a wait-and-see approach as Japan's political situation unfolds.

Professor Ha Jong-moon of Hanshin University in Gyeonggi Province described Aso's possible inauguration as ``the worst-case scenario'' for ties between South Korea and Japan.

``Aso is well known for speaking about his opinions on historical and other political issues in a straightforward manner, so I believe bilateral relations would become worse,'' Ha said.

Above all, don't be honest when dealing with South Koreans - it's rude! Most of all, that KT article spends eight graphs on Liancourt Rocks, without once passing concern about how Japan's domestic political deadlock affects any hopes of creating a normal nation with diplomatic relations with its neighbors.

From model to villain, to atomic punching bag, to sugar daddy, and now, pariah - Japan facilitates nationalistic arrogance and government incompetence.

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