Campaign Battle on Policies

People call the day one week before voting “Last Sunday.” Party leaders were dispatched to everywhere in Japan and sold their policies to attract the audience. While some appealed importance of maintaining current economic policy, others insisted on stopping reckless drive of current administration. The argument of each party seems to be clear, before the last campaign week.

During conducting necessary measures for the terrorism in Dhaka, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe went out to Ichikawa city, Chiba, to support a candidate with Liberal Democratic Party. “I will do the best to protect Japanese citizens inside or outside Japan,” told Abe, the appeal which might be interpreted as he would amend Constitution of Japan to send Japanese Self-defense Force to everywhere in the world. But, he has been ignoring constitutional amendment in his campaign speech to the public.

What he has been insisting was to continue his economic policy called Abenomics. But, his appeal is mainly focused on the achievement of the past. “We increased 11 billion jobs for these three years,” or “Effective opening-to-application ratio has improved to the best level in these twenty-four years,” was what he stressed. However, Asahi Shimbun reported the result of its own poll, which indicated 55% of the people wanted reviewing Abenomics, while 28% hoped to continue it. There should be a certain gap between Abe’s recognition and demand of the people.

Policy of Komeito is mostly copy of LDP’s. President of Komeito, Natsuo Yamaguchi, promised to distribute fruit of Abenomics, represented by increase of tax income. Komeito upholds shortening of term for paying pension fee or establishment of subsidized scholarship. LDP and Komeito harshly criticize economy policy of former administration of Democratic Party of Japan and irrelevant cooperation between Democratic Party and Japan Communist Party.

DP focuses on possible nightmare that powers for constitutional amendment may obtain two-third majority. “Prime Minister Abe is forwarding to deteriorate pacifism in Constitution of Japan and enable Self-defense Force use arms in overseas,” told DP President, Katsuya Okada. He also insisted that eight out of ten people do not realize rehabilitation of Japanese economy.

JCP focuses on abolishing new security legislation. “It is not constitutionality of Self-defense Force but legitimacy of sending JSDF to foreign wars that is questioned,” told JCP Chairman, Kazuo Shii. He explained that the cause of cooperation by the opposite parties was to protect constitutionalism to deter arbitrary use of political power. But, his elaboration would be too difficult for ordinary people to understand, maybe determining the result of election.