Shock from Local Community

One gubernatorial election shook the administration running toward “ordinary” country. In the election for the governor of Shiga prefecture, located in the center of mainland Honshu, former Representative, Daizo Mikazuki, defeated former bureaucrat in Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Takashi Koyari, with slight margin. Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, admitted that his security agenda over reinterpretation of the Constitution affected the result. It proved that opposition to collective self-defense is still strong in local community.

According to the polls, voters were mostly interested in welfare and economy. Although Mikazuki insisted on getting rid of dependence on nuclear energy, the policy which has been upheld by incumbent governor, Yukiko Kada, voters did not positively respond to the choice between the nuclear or renewable. Baseline of the election became a choice between representative of local community or bureaucracy in Tokyo. As a former Representative affiliated with Democratic Party of Japan, Mikazuki rejected supports from the party now in opposite position. Koyari received support from leading Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito.

When voters looked into the structure, inferior elements were more on the side of LDP. The hasted Cabinet decision on collective self-defense broadly planted negative image to the public that Abe is going ahead without listening to opinions of the people. In addition, arrogance unequivocally emerged from the party. Minister of Environment, Nobuteru Ishihara, boasted as if he would solve the problem of intermediate facility for nuclear debris with power of money. Sexual harassments of local assembly members revealed LDP’s basic ignorance about human rights of women.

In the discussion at the House of Representatives on Monday, Abe told that he could not deny the negative impact of his decision on the election. “In fact, understanding of the nation is insufficient. I would be careful in persuasion,” said Abe. But the fact that he put the highest priority on the decision rather than getting public support will not be recovered immediately.

Whether or not Abe understands it, opposition of local community is based on the situation of economy. Job losses are serious problem for local community and more people seek jobs in Japan Self-defense Force. Abe’s security policy definitely exposes JSDF personnel to dangerous situation by getting into war of others. People know well about the true meaning of exercising collective self-defense right, which must be taking advantage of economic hardship in local area.