JAPAN CHAPTER 5

CLICKER: 2 POINTSThe Chief Executive in the Japanese Government

since 1948 is called:A. ChancellorB. EmperorC. PresidentD.Prime MinisterE. Shogun

CLICKER: 2 POINTSMost often in postwar Japan, the prime minister

has lead a government formed:A. By a coalition of 2 or more partiesB. By the same single party that held a majority

in the diet most of the timeC. One of four main parties whose relative power

in the diet alternates often with electionsD. By a compromise among the several parties

that elect members to the Diet

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTIONJapan has the world’s third biggest national

economy after the United States and China.It has few natural resources, few minerals,

and limited farmland.It must import most of its iron and energy

needs and nearly one-third of its food needs.

However, it has developed a manufacturing sector that leads the world in engineering, machinery, road vehicles, and electronic products.

This helped to make Japan rich from the ‘60s to the ‘80s.

INTRODUCTIONEconomic downtown in 1990s as a

result of:troubled banking system, corporate difficulties, bad investment choices, a too-powerful bureaucracy, and a political system that seems to be immune to reform.

RISE OF COMPETITORS: Korea, Taiwan, CHINA, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. These all undercut Japan’s market NICHE in the 1980s.

INTRODUCTIONJapan is noted for two statistics

rates:Longest life expectancyLowest homicide rate

PART 1: POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTThe Shoguns (1192–1868) Military dictators ruling as the “servants” of

the Emperor.Shoguns ruled through a complex hierarchy.

Territorial lords (daimyo) Warriors (samurai)

At the beginning of seventeenth century (@ 1600), new capital of Japan was Edo.For 250 years Japan practiced isolationism.

Sakoku, or the “closed country”

PART 1: POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTThe end of Japanese isolationism came in July 1853. Commodore Matthew Perry of the U.S. Navy sailed

into Tokyo Bay with a demand from President Millard Fillmore that Japan open its doors to trade.

Treaty with United States signed in 1854.

PART 1: POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTLimited Democracy and Imperialism

(1868–1945)1868: Meiji restoration: new era of modernization Edo was renamed Tokyo. New sense of nationalization occurred. Industry grew Powerful new military was built

1889: New constitution was established.

PART 1: POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTLimited Democracy and Imperialism

(1868–1945)1932: Japanese formalized its occupation of the state of Manchukuo in Manchuria. This action broke with international law. Japan withdrew from the League of Nations.

1940: Japan allied itself with Germany and Italy.1941: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

Attack results in declaration of war by United States and Britain.

1945: United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to the surrender of Japan.

PART 1: POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTOccupation and the Rise of the New

Japan1945: Japan emerged from World War II.

Its economy was in ruins. Its social and political systems was fragile and confused. It was under foreign occupation.

U.S. General Douglas MacArthur In charge of disarming, democratizing, and permanently

demilitarizing Japan Oversaw the creation of new political and social system

having elements of Western-style democracy Arranged for new constitution

PART 1: POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTJapan Today Politically: It needs leadership.

Difficult to understand and reform Economically: Consumer confidence is low.

2006-2007: Japan was the only liberal democracy to experience deflation.

2011: Unemployment was running at about 5%. Changes are occurring.

Electoral system has been reformed. Government ministries have been reorganized. Younger Japanese are rebelling against formality and

conformity.

PART 1: POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTJapan Today (Cont’d)March 2011: Eastern Japan Great Earthquake

Japan was struck with triple disaster: Earthquake Tsunami Extensive damage to its nuclear power stations

Ramifications were felt through Japan and globally as part supplies from Japanese manufacturers to vehicle and electronic plants in many parts of the world were disrupted.

PART 1: POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTPOLITICAL CULTURE: Strong Collective IdentityPolitics is not driven by the majority.

Decisions in Japan tend to be made by consensus. There is little room for individualism. Emphasis is placed on the group.

Feminist movement is weak. Underlying reason is tradition and social order.

PART 2: POLITICAL SYSTEMPOLITICAL CULTURE (Cont’d) Japan is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government presiding over a unitary state.

Japan is often called a patron-client democracy. Patron–client democracy: The term used to

describe the dynamics of the Japanese political system and its emphasis on bargains and the trading of favors.

PART 2: POLITICAL SYSTEMTHE CONSTITUTION Japan has had two constitutions:

1889: Meiji Constitution 1947: Written under the auspices of U.S. General

MacArthur Still in force today

Some of the features of the constitution include: Created a parliamentary system Replaced emperor-based system with popular sovereignty. Guaranteed human rights Renounced war (The ONE part that was all Japanese) Abolished the aristocracy Created a new Supreme Court

PART 2: POLITICAL SYSTEMTHE EMPERORBoth Britain and Japan are constitutional monarchies.The British monarch is “head of state”The Japanese monarch is only the “symbol of the state.”

PART 2: POLITICAL SYSTEMTHE EMPEROR (Cont’d)Current Emperor is Akhito.

He presides over opening of the Diet.His seal is needed for important state documents.He confirms the person chosen to be prime minister by the Diet.

HOWEVER, the advice and approval of the Cabinet shall be required for all acts of the Emperor in matters of state” (Article 3) and the Emperor “shall perform only such acts in matters of state as are provided for in the Constitution and he shall not have powers related to government” (Article 4).

PART 2: POLITICAL SYSTEMTHE EXECUTIVE: PRIME MINISTER

AND CABINET Japanese prime ministers are the weakest heads of government of any liberal democracy.

Turnover for prime ministers has been so rapid that Japan is sometimes called a karaoke democracy.

Length of term: no more than five years.

PART 2: POLITICAL SYSTEM THE EXECUTIVE: PRIME MINISTER AND

CABINET (Cont’d)Role of the prime minister: Hires and fires members of the cabinet, as well as all

other senior members of the government and their party

Appoints the chairs of key governmental advisory councils

Nominates the chief justice of the Supreme Court (does not face the same checks and balances as U.S. presidents).

PART 2: POLITICAL SYSTEM THE EXECUTIVE: PRIME MINISTER AND

CABINET (Cont’d) The Japanese cabinet is little more than an

executive committee of the Diet. Ministers are usually given their posts as

political favors, and cabinet turnover is normally high.

PART 2: POLITICAL SYSTEMTHE LEGISLATURE: THE DIET It has all the typical lawmaking powers of a parliamentary legislature:standard powers over lawmaking and the budget,

ability to unseat the prime minister and cabinet through a vote of no confidence,

a question time for members of the cabinet, and a range of specialist committees.

The Diet has two chambers.

PART 2: POLITICAL SYSTEM

Iron triangle: An arrangement by which political power in countries such as Japan is focused on a relationship between the governing party, bureaucrats, and business.

PART 2: POLITICAL SYSTEM

PART 2: POLITICAL SYSTEM

House of Councillors (Sangi-in)House of Councillors is the upper house. It consists of 242 members serving fixed six-year terms. Half of the members come up for reelection every three

years. It is chaired by a president chosen from among its members.

It can reject bills from the House of Representatives, but the lower house can override the rejection with a two-thirds majority.

PART 2: POLITICAL SYSTEMHouse of Representatives (Shugi-in) The House of Representatives is the lower and more powerful

chamber. It consists of 480 members elected using a combination of

300 single-member districts and 180 seats filled by proportional representation.

The Diet meets for only five months per year, two months of which are usually tied up over the annual budget debate.

Diet members typically have very small staff and very small offices.

Diet members do not generally write bills, the bureaucracy does that

PART 2: POLITICAL SYSTEMTHE JUDICIARY: SUPREME COURTThe Japanese court has 15 judges, 14 of whom are chosen by the cabinet from lists submitted by the court itself.The chief justice is appointed by the emperor on the recommendation of the cabinet.

New members of the Japanese court must be confirmed by a popular vote at the next general election and again at the next general election following 10 years of service. They must retire at age 70.

PART 2: POLITICAL SYSTEMSUBNATIONAL GOVERNMENT Japan is a unitary system of government. It is highly centralized, and local government is

correspondingly less important.Japanese local government generally operates as a willing and efficient channel for the implementation of central government policies.

PART 3: ELECTIONS AND PARTIESTHE ELECTORAL SYSTEMThere are no primaries in Japan.Official election campaigns are restricted by law to a maximum of 30 days.

The general election is the most critical as it determines the membership of the Diet.

PART 3: ELECTIONS AND PARTIESLegislative ElectionsElectioneering in Japan is controlled by the strongest restrictions.

All of the following are illegal or regulated: door-to-door canvassing signature drives mass meetings polling unscheduled speeches Parades literature produced by candidates

PART 3: ELECTIONS AND PARTIESLocal Government Elections Japanese voters take part in a variety of local elections.

The significance of local government elections is relatively minor, except as a potential (but not always reliable) indicator of support for political parties.

PART 3: ELECTIONS AND PARTIESPOLITICAL PARTIES Japan does not have a long history of party politics.Several parties were formed after Meiji restoration, but it was halted in the 1930s.

The party system was reborn in 1945.From 1955 to 1993, every government was formed and led by the Liberal Democrats.

Changes in the party system took another dramatic turn in the 1993 elections, when defections from the LDP resulted in big losses and the emergence of three new parties.

PART 3: ELECTIONS AND PARTIESPOLITICAL PARTIES (Cont’d)There were predictions that a two-party system might emerge, with the LDP on the right and the New Frontier Party (NFP) on the left, but this idea died in late 1997 with the collapse of the NFP.

LDP staged a comeback in 2005.2009 general election: LDP and the DPJ almost exactly reversed their representation in the House.

PART 3: ELECTIONS AND PARTIESLiberal Democratic Party (LDP)

(Jiyuminshuto)The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) originated in 1870.

It was reformed in 1955 when the two main conservative parties joined forces.

The LDP is a classic example of Japanese consensus politics. It is a mainstream, conservative, pro-business party.

PART 3: ELECTIONS AND PARTIESLiberal Democratic Party (LDP)

(Jiyuminshuto) (Cont’d)Reasons for longtime dominance of the LDP:

As it began in 1950, it was the party of experience. It could meet popular expectations for stability and economic

prosperity. It was the only party able to take advantage of the multimember constituency system used until 1995. It had extensive contacts in business. Bureaucracy needed to raise money to support fielding multiple

candidates.The LDP benefited from the slowness with which constituency lines were redrawn.

PART 3: ELECTIONS AND PARTIESLiberal Democratic Party (LDP)

(Jiyuminshuto) (Cont’d)Reasons for longtime dominance of the LDP (Cont’d): The LDP factions do not provide real policy alternatives as

much as they promote their leaders to positions of power. Opposition parties failed to offer a distinct ideological

alternative. It has an impressive network of grassroots supporter groups

with personal ties to Diet members. Japanese voters tend to be conservative. The LDP is a chameleon party, adapting its policies to meet

the changing tastes and needs of voters. Calder: Crisis and Compensation thesis.

PART 3: ELECTIONS AND PARTIES

PART 3: ELECTIONS AND PARTIESDemocratic Party of Japan (DPJ) (Minshuto)

1992–1993 New Harbinger Party (Shinto Sakigake) split off from Liberal Democrats.

Broke apart in August, 1996, with defectors forming centrist DPJ.

Its key goals include greater political transparency and decentralization, more equal economic opportunity, and a more independent approach to Japanese foreign relations.

PART 3: ELECTIONS AND PARTIES

Figure 5.1 Legislative Electoral Trends in Japan

PART 3: ELECTIONS AND PARTIESClean Government Party (CGP) (Komeito)Groups of disaffected LDP members of parliament broke away during 1992–1993 to form three new parties: the Japan New Party, the Japan Renewal Party, and the New Harbinger Party.

These joined forces with four other small parties—including Komeito (founded in 1964) and the Social Democrats—to form the multiparty coalition that finally broke the LDP’s 38-year grip on power in 1993.

PART 3: ELECTIONS AND PARTIESClean Government Party (CGP) (Komeito) In December 1994, the New Frontier Party (NFP) united no fewer than nine opposition groups under the leadership of Ichiro Ozawa.

Ozawa disbanded the NFP in December 1997, and most of its members agreed to create New Komeito.

PART 3

: ELE

CTIONS

AND PARTIE

S

The leaders of Japan’s political parties pose before a meeting at the National Press Club of Tokyo in June 2010. From left to right: Kazuo Shii of the Japan Communist Party, Sadakazu Tanigaki of the Liberal Democratic Party, Prime Minister Naoto Kan of the Democratic Party of Japan, Natsuo Yamaguchi of the New Komeito Party, Mizuho Fukushima of the Social Democratic Party, and Yoshimi Watanabe of Your Party.

Koji Sasahara/AP Photo

PART 3: ELECTIONS AND PARTIESOther PartiesThe two remaining parties of national significance are both on the left of the political spectrum: Social Democratic Party (SDP)

Successor to the Japan Socialist Party (JSP) Japan Communist Party (JCP)

Founded in 1922 with Soviet support, but not legalized until 1945

PART 4: POLICIES AND POLICYMAKINGECONOMIC POLICYKey factors in Japan’s economic success include:

A close relationship between government and business Japanese companies can borrow more than their American

counterparts.A close relationship between government, business, and labor unions Lowest number of days lost through strikes Workers are highly productive, and tend to put the

good of the company before their own personal welfare.

PART 4: POLICIES AND POLICYMAKINGECONOMIC POLICY (Cont’d)Key factors in Japan’s economic success include: (Cont’d) Major investments in new technology and research

and development Emphasis on greater automation

High levels of household savings Japanese save a remarkable 27 percent of their

income, much of which is invested, thus helping economic development.

PART 4: POLICIES AND POLICYMAKINGECONOMIC POLICY (Cont’d)Unfortunately, economic growth has come at the expense of quality of life. Little has been invested in environmental protection,

welfare, and basic services. The Japanese work long hours.

Driven by high-cost of living Loyalty and obligation toward employer

This has led to karoshi (death from overwork). Court cases have been filed against companies by the families of

workers who have died relatively young from heart attacks or strokes. Labor laws have been changed to limit companies with more than 30

employees to a 40-hour working week.

PART 4: POLICIES AND POLICYMAKINGECONOMIC POLICY (Cont’d)Despite their work ethic, the Japanese have less purchasing power.Consumer goods are relatively expensive. Land and real estate prices are among the highest in the

world. Cities are crowded. Housing is in short supply. Homes are small. Commuters often have to travel up to two hours a day each

way between home and work.

Figure 5.2 Comparing Trade Balances

Source: The Economist, April 2011. Figures are for preceding 12 months.

PART 4: POLICIES AND POLICYMAKING

PART 4: POLICIES AND POLICYMAKINGFOREIGN POLICYClause was included in the Japanese constitution to prevent the reemergence of Japanese militarism. It has provoked controversy within Japan, and

complicated relations with the United States.

Article IX – Peace Clause

PART 4: POLICIES AND POLICYMAKINGJapan and the United States Japanese Mutual Security Treaty of 1954: Japan agrees to the stationing of U.S. troops on its soil.

Also, Japan has maintained the Self-Defense Force (SDF), whose job during the cold war was to provide the United States with intelligence.

U.S. and Japanese economic and defense interests are linked together closely, but the two countries are economic rivals.

There is growing support among Japanese for their country to play a more assertive role in world.

PART 4: POLICIES AND POLICYMAKINGJapan and Its NeighborsAlthough Japan spends some $47 Billion in defenseSimilar to Britain or Russia’s military budgets

Its main priority has been to stay friendly with everyone and to build trade.

In recent years, Japan has become interested in spreading its influence to poorer countries.

PART 4: POLICIES AND POLICYMAKINGJAPANESE POLITICS IN TRANSITIONChallenges facing Japan today:

opening its markets to its trading partners, finding a new role for itself at the heart of an Asia filled

with rapidly growing economies, and reforming its political system in a way that takes

government out of smoke-filled rooms and moves it more fully into the public arena.

The core problem remains with the structure of government. Failures of reforms for structure to take root

STUDY QUESTIONS1.What is the difference (if any) between

modernization and Westernization?2.What evidence is there of social hierarchies

in the United States and Britain, and how do their political consequences compare with those of Japanese social hierarchy?

3.It is often said that Japanese prime ministers are caretakers or functionaries rather than leaders. To what extent could the same be said of U.S. presidents and British prime ministers?

STUDY QUESTIONS 4. Which is best for government and the

people: regular or slow turnover in the office of the executive?

5. To what extent is factionalism a part of politics in other liberal democracies? Is it something peculiarly Japanese?

6. Compare and contrast the power and role of political parties in Japan and the United States.

STUDY QUESTIONS7. What are the costs and benefits of

a single-party-dominant system like that of Japan?

8. Is Japan an economic superpower?9. Should Japan be allowed to take

care of its own defense?10.What reforms are needed to bring

stability to the Japanese political system?

COMPARATIVE EXERCISE: LEGISLATURES