Korean Scandal Affects Its Neighbor

An English historian, John Dalberg-Acton, had predicted this South Korean scandal with his words: Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Special prosecutors on corruption of Park Geun-hye administration on Saturday made domiciliary search in the Presidential residence called Blue House. Park is suspected to have kept inappropriate relationship with her long-time associate, Choi Soon-sil, significantly eroding political support on her. The scandal may affect bilateral relation with Japan, which has been looking like improving.

The prosecutors showed the officers in Blue House a search warrant and required submission of documents related to the scandal. Frustrated with submission of “meaningless documents,” the prosecutors tried to make a coercive search on the office of Advisors for the President. Blue House rejected the search with reason of protecting secrets of the state. They seized computers or cell phones from the private houses of seven officers in Blue House.

Secrets of the state matters in this scandal. Having been a close ally for Park from the beginning of her political carrier, Choi is suspected to have received draft of Park’s speeches that might include top secrets of the states. When Choi edited those drafts, she read documents for cabinet meeting or reports from local government. That could violate the law to control information of the state.

Another scandal is about money, as political scandals always be. An advisor of Park is suspected to have pressured on major corporations to donate money for two funds, both of which were controlled by Choi. It might be an underground flow of political money to Choi. Now, Park can be depicted as puppet of a woman whose late father was a religious leader.

Park fired all her advisors to demonstrate reform of her administration. But, anger of the people has not tamed. Nine thousands of people made protest in downtown Seoul on Saturday. They required resignation of Park, regretting corruption of Blue House that proved their country had been controlled by an unknown lady. Supporting rate of Park showed steep decline after the scandal was reported.

The eclipse of Park administration may affect some achievement in bilateral relations with Japan. Japanese government is worried about decline of validity for agreement on settling bilateral dispute on comfort woman. Furious public of South Korea is likely to oppose a deal to remove statue of comfort woman in front of Japanese Embassy in Seoul. Bilateral negotiation over cooperation on exchanging military information can be also affected. This is a regrettable diplomatic slowdown in the time another uncontrollable nation in Korean Peninsula is raising its level of intimidation.

Extending Term of President

As a bulwark against monarchy, the Twenty-second Amendment of the United States Constitution sets a term limit of the President, saying “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” Although the leading party of Japan had been keeping the same kind of limit for its President, it recently discarded that rule to extend the term of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. For LDP lawmakers, a strong leader is more precious than democracy.

The Headquarter for Exercising Political System Reform of LDP on Wednesday decided to extend the term of its President, who would automatically be the Prime Minister of Japan when the party possessed administrative power, from two terms with six years to three terms with nine years. The new rule will be applied after next March, when the party will hold annual National Convention.

Why the extension of the term was raised in this timing? The term of Abe as the party president will be expired September 2018. Being ambitious to amend the Constitution under his administration, Abe picked Toshihiro Nikai, who had been positive on extending the term with reason of maintaining stable leadership of LDP, for Secretary General right after being reelected as the President last fall. Appointing a submissive veteran lawmaker, Masahiko Komura, to the leader of the Headquarters, Abe contained critical opinion against his long term inside the party.

The discussion in the Headquarters was something external. The greatest point, whether the term should be extended or not, was soon concluded as different from “global standard.” Komura asserted that it was only Japan among the countries in Group of Seven with parliamentary cabinet system that had limit of the term of party leader. The greatest talking point was whether the term should be limited to nine years or unlimited. Removing the limitation was dismissed with concern of criticism from the public.

If Abe will be successful in extending his term, he will be on the top of the ranking of long-term Prime Ministers of Japan during his third term. Current top runner of the ranking is Taro Katsura, a Prime Minister under the constitution of Imperial Japan, who was at the seat for 2,886 days. Abe will be able to stay for over 3,500 days, if he is reelected again.

Shigeru Ishiba, former Minister of Defense, or Fumio Kishida, incumbent Foreign Minister, should be the candidate for succeeding Abe. But, they are not so active for campaigning for next regime, being afraid of infuriating a powerful leader. Most LDP lawmakers are comfortable under Abe’s leadership, concerning coming election. Democracy against monarchy cannot be seen in their obedience.

No to Banning Nuclear Weapons

With no persuasive reason, the only country in the world that suffered from devastation of nuclear war seventy-one years ago voted no to a pact which would prohibit nuclear weapons to any country. Under the heavy pressure from United States, which provided with nuclear umbrella, Japan defied broad movement to ban nuclear weapons in United Nations. Japan can lose its grip on nuclear disarmament, which has been the raison d’être as a nation desiring peace.

The First Committee on Disarmament of U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution for starting negotiation over a treaty banning nuclear weapons next year. One hundred and twenty-three countries, including Austria, Brazil or even Iran and North Korea, voted yes to the resolution. It expressed deep concern on a devastative humanitarian consequences brought by use of nuclear weapons and required negotiation for legally binding document of banning nuclear weapons. Sixteen countries including China abstained from voting.

Japan joined a group of thirty-eight countries, represented by United States, United Kingdom or Russia, that voted no to the resolution. They opposed radical progress to prohibit nuclear weapons and upheld gradual reduction of nuclear weapons focusing on maintaining security. “That was because it would generate opposition between nuclear possessors and non-nuclear states,” told Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Fumio Kishida, about the reason why Japan voted against the resolution.

United States had a great concern on the resolution, recognizing it as eroding long-time strategic stability that had been supporting international security regime. It urged its allies not to vote yes to the resolution. Having considered the options on abstention, Japanese government decided to follow its protector against its longtime principle of regarding nuclear weapon as an absolute evil.

It was natural response that nuclear sufferers in Japan denounced that diplomatic behavior of their government. “I would call Japan a fool. What is it doing, anyway?” said Sunao Tsuboi, who was exposed to nuclear explosion in Hiroshima seventy-one years ago and exchanged short conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama in his first visit to Hiroshima as a representative of hibakusha this fall. While hibakushas welcomed passing the resolution as a positive step for nuclear disarmament, they were deeply embarrassed with unreasonable double standard exercised by Japan.

Seventy-one years ago, the Japanese saw Hiroshima under a huge umbrella of nuclear mushroom. Now they are feeling safe under nuclear umbrella of the nation that dropped nuclear bombs on Japan. Staying there meanwhile means giving that inhumane weapon a chance to survive, threatening a number of lives on this planet. But, Japan looks like no longer having a determination to lead the movement for the world without nuclear weapons.

Last Brother of Showa Emperor Deceased

The youngest brother of late Emperor Hirohito, Takahito, Prince Mikasa, died at 100 on Thursday. After retired as Major of Japanese Imperial Army, Takahito taught in colleges as a historian on ancient Orient. Imperial family lost one of the male families, leaving a discussion over extending the area of the family. Emperor Akihito is going to be in a mourning week, refraining from attending official events.

Takahito was hospitalized for treatment of acute pneumonia on May 16^th. After the symptom of pneumonia ceased, he had been staying for treatment of malfunction of heart. With sudden deterioration of his body condition in Thursday morning, Takahito got into a critical condition of cardiac arrest and deceased on 8:34 with his wife at his side.

Born as the fourth son of Taisho Emperor in 1915, Takahito graduated Military Academy of Imperial Army. He was one of the Staffs in the Expedition Army to China or Imperial Headquarters during the World War II. After the end of the war, his opinion in the Army that urged reflection over deteriorated discipline or unnecessary slaughters. In the regime change of post-war imperial system, he chose his life of studying history and became a teacher in Tokyo Women’s College.

Supporting his brother Hirohito and nephew Akihito, Takahito upheld post-war democracy in Japan. When the movement for revival of Empire Day took power in 1950s, he criticized it as a conspiracy for coercing fictitious calendar with state power. “After overtly cerebrated 2,600^th anniversary from national foundation in Showa 15^th, Japan recklessly entered into the war next year,” Takahito elaborated in his book.

Takahito is also known as having proposed introduction of abdication in Japanese imperial system. In his proposal in 1946, Takahito questioned that having no alternative to succession of throne except death might violate the spirit of the Constitution of Japan that prohibited holding any person in bondage. “The Emperor will be a slave of the Cabinet with ball and chain,” said Takahito about lack of provision about abdication.

It is likely that discussion over abdication, proposed by current Emperor Akihito, will be accelerated. “This is not an issue that can be laid under prolonged discussion,” told Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga. A consultative committee for Prime Minister on reducing official work of the Emperor picked sixteen experts for hearing. “They will discuss roles of Emperor based on the Constitution of Japan,” said the Deputy Chairman, Takashi Mikuriya.

Balancing between Japan and China

President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines made his first visit to Japan and had a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a friendly manner over the issues between two nations. Seeking their own interests, the both leaders reconfirmed the policy to enhance their bilateral cooperation over the issues in East Asia. They did not referred to China in detail and United States was dropped in their conversation.

Abe and Duterte delivered a joint statement after the meeting in Tokyo Wednesday night. On the dispute over territory in South China Sea, two leaders stressed necessity of settling it with peaceful measures. “Two leaders acknowledged the importance of a rule-based approach to the peaceful settlement of maritime disputed without resorting to the threat or use of force,” said the joint statement.

The attitude of Duterte on the maritime issue was not consistent with his remarks in China earlier this month, which he hope the rule of Permanent Court of Arbitration in Hague, finding China as violated United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea, to “take the back seat.” According to a report of Japanese newspaper, Duterte dismissed a possibility of Philippine to take a stance out of the rule of Hague Arbitration Court. He promised to stand by Japan side, which has been consistently close to United States.

With expectation of economic support from Japan, Duterte made apparent lip service to the Japanese. He called Japan a “special friend who is closer than a brother” in his remarks to the Filipino community in Japan a day before the summit meeting. He said that the Philippines would continue to work closely with Tokyo and uphold democracy and the rule of law, putting aside his internal bloody campaign against drugs.

Japan answered Duterte’s flattering with warm treatment. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida waited Duterte’s arrival with fifteen-minute delay in front of a luxurious Japanese cuisine restaurant in Tuesday night. Japan offered two additional coast guard ships to help the Philippines to protect its interest in South China Sea. What Abe wanted from Duterte was basic endorsement on his policy toward South China Sea, reiterating necessity of peace and stability in the region, the principle which Abe thought that it would justify his decision of sending troops in overseas.

Japan did not make any effective effort to improve deteriorated relationship between Duterte and United States. In the speech Tuesday night, Duterte showed firm disrespect against U.S. “I want, maybe in next two years, my country free of the presence of foreign military troops,” he said. As a result Japan offered Duterte a venue for further bluster against U.S

Swollen Cost for Decommissioning

Estimation of the cost for decommissioning broken reactors in First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, or 1F, keeps on swollen. While it once was calculated to be ¥5 trillion, which was corrected to be ¥9 trillion, the government of Japan realizes it to be tens of trillion yen. Who is going to pay for that? Not only the owner of the reactors, Tokyo Electric Power Company, but Japanese citizens have to owe it? To avoid a sense of moral hazard, the government reluctantly begins to consider dismantlement of TEPCO by separating nuclear power business from its main body.

In the meeting of Committee for Reforming TEPCO and 1F Issue, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry revealed its estimation of annual cost for decommissioning 1F reactors as several hundreds of billion yen. Realizing difficulty of TEPCO to pay for all of it, METI presented four options: the government would pay, additionally injecting public money to TEPCO, leaving TEPCO alone, and separating nuclear power business to earn money for decommissioning. First three options were dropped, because of immorality to support an incompetent company with public money or additional burden to the consumers.

Separation option is an offer of the government to introduce new system for TEPCO to pay for the decommissioning. In that scenario, while TEPCO will maintain its job for decommissioning 1F and compensation for the accident five years ago, new subsidiary company for nuclear power generation will yield profit for decommissioning by resuming operation in Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant. The government thought that it would justify resumption of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, which Shinzo Abe administration has been hoping.

TEPCO has changed its business in April, separating thermal power generation, retailing electricity, and distribution of electricity under the umbrella of TEPCO Holdings. Separating nuclear power generation is supposed to be generating cooperation with other power companies in Japan. It is a good idea for the government to maintain Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant with sacrifice of TEPCO being dismantled.

Is it true that all the cost for decommissioning 1F will be paid only through TEPCO reform? The experts still have not determined final cost for decommissioning 1F. It is possible for the government to begin to say that “Well, we did our best for the reform, though, it is still in short. People have to pay for the rest.” Perspective for resumption of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is still unclear, because of opposition of new governor of Niigata, who was elected with support of the opposite party. Nuclear generation is not competitive in this country.

Working to Die

Matsuri Takahashi was a young lady working for a major advertising agency, Dentsu, at the end of last year. She worked very hard and her overtime work recorded 105 hours in a month between last October and November. She was so exhausted that she got mentally sick. What she has chosen was death. A labor standard inspection office recognized her suicide as worker’s accident to be compensated.

Graduated University of Tokyo, the highest elite school in Japan, Takahashi entered Dentsu last April. While she worked in Division of Digital Account, which dealt with internet advertisement, her work suddenly got increased last October. Leaving messages of indicating her wish to death to her close friends through social networking service, Takahashi killed herself in her room of dormitory of the company on Christmas day.

Takahashi was in charge of internet advertisement of car insurance companies, collecting and analyzing ad data of clients. After finishing intern period in last September, her work drastically increased. The member of her section was reduced from 14 to 6, making her job heavier than before. Not only working on office jobs, a freshwoman had to coordinate internal party for drinking. After the party is over, she had to participate in a review meeting late at night. One of her bosses accused of her immature job skill, saying that their company was paying for her overtime work in vain.

Mita Labor Standard Inspection Office in Tokyo realized that her death was caused by mental difficulty from psychological burden of increased overtime works. Although Dentsu was suffering from its unjust business on internet advertisement at the time, requiring the clients excessive amount of the fee, the company did not appropriately distribute man power to each section.

That was not only the case. A young man in his second year in Dentsu killed himself with frustration on his hard work in 1991. Supreme Court decided that Dentsu was responsible for his death in the trial raised by his family. Nevertheless, Dentsu could not avoid another victim of its crazy culture for working. It has been indicated that Dentsu is not serious about the job environment of its employees.

Potential victims are still working for Dentsu, now. Most workers are able to manage their hard job and eventually get the monsters to coerce their experience to the subordinates. Although Shinzo Abe administration focuses on easing burden on the workers in Japan, victims of hard work, or karoushi, will not be reduced as long as that culture is not changed.

Two Victories in Tokyo and Fukuoka

Liberal Democratic Party achieved two victories in the supplemental election of House of Representatives voted on Sunday. It is likely for Shinzo Abe administration to take bold steps in handling of important policy with self-confidence on broad support from the public. Defeated in spite of broad coalition by four parties, Democratic Party will face difficulty in the leadership of President Renho who promoted the coalition policy.

It was expected that LDP would not be forced uneasy campaign in each of two districts. Tokyo 10^th was a district where Yuriko Koike, current Governor of Tokyo, had been maintaining her seat for years. In the election for fulfill the vacant seat after Koike left, LDP raised former lawyer Masaru Wakasa, shifting from LDP proportional representative to district seat in the House. Although Wakasa supported Koike in the gubernatorial election in July against LDP candidate, the party approved his activity after Koike won the election with broad popularity.

In the District 6^th of Fukuoka, former Mayor of Okawa City, Jiro Hatoyama got the seat. Hatoyama is a son of former Minister of Justice, Kunio Hatoyama, who died earlier this year. LDP raised another candidate in the district after bitter opposition over achieving official support from the party. Although Hatoyama lost in the internal struggle, he achieved broad support from the voters thanking his father’s popularity. LDP officially recognized Hatoyama as its candidate after he won the election. LDP in fact had two candidates in one district.

The main issue was economic policy of Abe administration, Trans-Pacific Partnership or interpretation of the Constitution of Japan. Although the discussion over those issues has not been sufficient in the campaign, Abe administration is confident in public support on the handling of them. It is supposed that Abe is going to promote ratification of TPP or adding new mission of Japanese Self-defense Force on peacekeeping operation of United Nations in South Sudan, which is suspected as violating the Constitution.

Damage in Renho regime in DP is not small. While she succeeded coalition policy with Japan Communist Party and other two minor parties from former President Katuya Okada, there remained fundamental skepticism on it among conservative lawmakers in DP. Although DP was successful in establishing cooperative framework with them in both districts, the candidates lost with great margin against LDP winners. Credibility of Renho was declined.

Two victories does not prove further advance of LDP, anyway. Wakasa or Hatoyama was not the candidate with firm support from the party. Regional organization of LDP was not willing to support the winners at the beginning. It is not sure that Abe became positive to have general election of the House early next month.

Struggle over Agricultural Reform

As the government of Japan proceeds to ratification of new framework for free trade, or Trans-Pacific Partnership, reform in agriculture for reinforcing productive system in Japan looms up. Under the leadership of Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, Liberal Democratic Party focuses on reforming JA Group, a huge network of farmers’ cooperatives. While JA has traditionally been one of the most powerful supporters for LDP in every election, the reform may change their moderate relationship.

TPP promotes high-level liberation of trade in Asia-Pacific region, which may bring Japan competitive agricultural products from New Zealand or Australia. Farmers or ranchers in Japan have been negative in accepting the trade pact with deep concern on their business. To maintain their support, Abe administration and LDP are going to launch new policy package for competitive Japanese agriculture next month.

One major policy is reforming National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations, or Zen-no, one of the major organizations in JA Group. Zen-no purchases necessary materials, wholesales them to each farmer and mediate between farmers and buyers for selling agricultural products. The distribution system coordinated by Zen-no is so complicated that cost for the products has been too high to be competitive in new free trade framework.

LDP discusses lowering price of the materials necessary for production, such as machines or fertilizer. To make that possible, Zen-no has to integrate brands of fertilizer and reorganize factories. Agricultural cooperatives need to reduce commission for mediation of agricultural products to simplify the distribution system. Deregulation would generate distribution system, seen namely in fresh milk products, which is highly monopolized by agricultural cooperatives.

The leader of the issue is Chairman of Agriculture Section in LDP Policy Research Council, Shinjiro Koizumi. Koizumi has been having meetings with farmers and ranchers to persuade them on the necessity for reform to achieve sustainable agriculture. With support from the reformers in agriculture community, including the leaders in Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries or Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, or JA Zenchu, Koizumi promotes reform of JA Group.

Protest from farmers is consistent, anyway. As pressure organization of agricultural cooperatives in six districts in Tohoku region rejected supporting LDP candidates in election of House of Councillors this summer, LDP lost five seats out of those six. Cooperatives with a great number of rice farmers in Niigata did not render great power to the candidate of leading parties in the gubernatorial election, causing victory of the opposite candidate upholding anti-nuclear power generation policy. The protest of farmers may affect Abe’s decision for dissolution of House of Representatives, partly expected in early next year.

Losing Target in Monetary Policy

Bank of Japan begins to reconsider its inflation target, which has been the core of economic policy in Shinzo Abe administration, or Abenomics. Realizing difficulty to achieve 2% hike of commodity price by the end of FY 2017, BoJ is going to delay the time limit to FY 2018 or later. The term for BoJ Governor, Haruhiko Kuroda, will be expired around at the end of FY 2017, or April 8^th of 2018, without expected achievement of its monetary policy.

BoJ delivers quarterly report on commodity price. Next report will be issued at the end of Monetary Policy Decision Meeting held on October 31^st and November 1^st, which will show perspectives for three years between FY 2016 and FY 2018 with edition by nine members of Policy Committee including Governor Kuroda. At the time of last report in July, the bank estimated average rate of price rising to be 0.1% in FY 2016, 1.7% in FY 2017 and 1.9% in FY 2018. For some unidentified reasons, last report concluded that commodity price would reach the target of 2% in FY 2017.

The bank will change that estimation in next report. New analysis expects the average rate of inflation in 2017 to be within the lower half between 1% and 2%. The time for achieving 2% inflation will be delayed from the set limit of “within FY 2017.” Caused by price down of crude oil and negative trend of domestic consumption, inflation rate has been declining for consecutive 6 months.

In the discussion of Committee on Finance and Monetary Affairs of House of Representatives on Friday, Kuroda admitted the possibility of changing his policy. “It is possible for us to review the limit of FY 2017. We have realized that price target can be lowered,” said Kuroda. One member of a council in the bank also approved the view of delay.

BoJ shifted its monetary policy from focusing on quantity of buying national bonds to handling of interest in September. It has already been recognized as dismissing of 2% inflation target policy in the market. “The idea of achieving it only through monetary policy was incompetent,” told an economist. Expectation for further monetary easing is rapidly shrinking.

Negative effect of new policy in September has been appearing. In the policy of leading long-term interest rate around 0%, BoJ is likely to reduce its purchase of national bonds to raise the rate, when its rate gets into the minus. It will invite skepticism of market on the manipulation of BoJ. BoJ policy looks like distorting market economy.

Discrimination by Policemen

This is an embarrassing appearance of discrimination inherent in deep in the heart of the Japanese. Two policemen guarding construction site for new helipad of United States Force in Takae, Okinawa, hurled dirty words on the protestors staying in front of the gate on Wednesday, the scene which was broadcast to all over Japan. While government officials regretted that inappropriate attitude of those policemen, some politicians were compassionate toward them.

As well as in Henoko where U.S. and Japanese governments are constructing new military base, Takae is known as the place of protests of the people in Okinawa. The protestors were making sit-in in front of the gate of Takae site to disturb bringing materials for construction. Most of them were members of teachers union in Okinawa. Riot squads from other places in Japan, including Tokyo, Osaka or Aichi, were guarding there helping Okinawa Prefectural Police.

They were policemen from Osaka Prefectural Police in their age of 20s, who pronounced discriminative words to the protestors. “What are you grabbing, jerk, you aborigine?” said a policeman to a protestor touching the fence. “Shut up, hey you Sino-people,” said another policeman. The video footage was recorded by a novelist in the protest, Shun Metoruma, who had won a famous literature award in Japan.

Their nasty behavior was based on a frustration with protests against national policy. “Aborigine” represented a sentiment that distinguished the protestors from ordinary people who silently abided by the decision of politics made in Tokyo. There are some cases in cyber space to call the people in Okinawa and Fukushima aborigine. “Sino-people” represented the notion that the protest in Okinawa was benefiting China. But, there is a traditional discrimination on the Chinese from the time when Japan colonized China. Sino-people is an intensive expression of looking down the Chinese.

Commissioner General of National Police Agency, Masayoshi Sakaguchi, regretted the case with promise of stronger control on the personnel. “It cannot be tolerated,” told Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga. “I have firm anger on it, which was unpardonable and thoroughly intolerable,” said Governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga.

One unique figure on this issue was the boss of those policemen, Governor of Osaka, Ichiro Matsui. “Even though the expression was inappropriate, I understood that policemen from Osaka was diligently working under the order. Thank you for that,” tweeted Matsui. It is remarkable that abusing protestors with discriminative words, fueling anger in Okinawa and make the base issue further complicated were official duty of policemen from Osaka. Osaka is one of the places in Japan where social discrimination is still deeply rooted. Discrimination is always goes not to the discriminators but to the weaker people.

Changing Olympic Plan

The President of International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, made a visit to Japan on Tuesday to discuss the plan of Tokyo Olympic 2020. In the meeting with the Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, Bach proposed to launch a working group for settling the dispute over stadium for rowing and canoe sprint by IOC, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Japan Olympic Organization Committee and the government of Japan. It was unusual proposal for IOC to intervene domestic disagreement on where one of the Olympic games should take place.

Reducing the cost for Tokyo Olympic has been one of the greatest political agenda for Koike, who was elected a few months ago. Although Tokyo Government estimated the cost for constructing Forest of the Sea Water Stadium for rowing and canoe sprint to be ¥6.9 billion, the price had swollen as much as ¥103.8 billion after winning the ticket of Olympic 2020.

Koike started review of the plan right after she was elected in July. The investigation team for Koike proposed to change the plan from building up a new stadium in Tokyo, where price of real estate is extremely high, to using existing stadium in Town of Tome, Miyagi. When Koike visited Tome to see the stadium, the people in Miyagi, including Governor Yoshihiro Murai, welcomed the plan of having Olympic games there. Miyagi is one of the devastated places in East Japan Great Earthquake five years ago.

The meeting was entirely open to the press with proposal by Koike. “As my campaign promise, I had been saying that the plan for Olympic stadiums needed to be reviewed. Eighty percent of the people approve review of the cost,” told Koike to Bach. “I do not hope mottainai,” replied Bach, using Japanese expression for regretting extravagance.

But, Bach did not forget to draw a baseline that changing plan after winning the ticket had to be unfair. Considering the trend that candidates for future Olympic were reluctant to pay a great amount of money for hosting, Bach had to balance the need for cost-cut and maintaining rule for invitation. Upholding a principle of “athlete first,” Koike told that organization on rowing and canoe might be invited to the discussion.

In the meeting with Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, on Wednesday, Bach proposed to have baseball games in the suffered place of East Japan Great Earthquake. Three cities in Fukushima have been inviting baseball or softball games. Abe agreed on the idea of reducing cost and promised cooperation in the measures of anti-doping. It was also unusual for President of IOC to propose changing plan of Olympic games.

A Wish Embraced Long

A unique governmental system of Japan upholding Emperor as the symbol of unification is shaken these months. The announcement of Emperor Akihito about his wish to step down has caused broad and deep discussion over whether Japanese government introduces abdication in its imperial system or not. News reports indicate that Akihito has been embracing that idea for a long time.

It was six years ago when Akihito revealed his wish of abdication to his councilors. According to a report of Asahi Shimbun, he made a remark for his abdication in an ordinary meeting of councilors, including Grand Steward of Imperial Household Agency or Grand Chamberlain at Imperial Palace on July 22^nd of 2010. “If we are making no change, I will not be able to do my duty as the Emperor. I think that I should abdicate the throne before that,” told Akihito.

Akihito continued his remarks before the participants apparently shocked. “Although I would like to do my duty until the age of 80, I hope to abdicate afterward,” said Akihito. He was seriously worried about the possibility of not fulfilling his role as the symbol of the state, as he would become old. His idea seemed to be connected to the situation of highly aging society of Japan.

At the age of 76 at that time, Akihito was suffering from deteriorating health condition. Medical doctor found inflammatory phenomena in his stomach and duodenum two years before, which was caused by psychological stresses. Imperial Household Agency made a draft of reforming official duty of the Emperor accordingly.

Akihito’s wish for abdication in 2010 urged his staff serious discussion over abdication. The participants of councilors meeting proposed having Regency and Emperor’s acts in matters of the state to be surrogated by Prince Naruhito. But, Akihito rejected that idea with firm conviction that status and activity of the state symbol had to be integrated as one. Empress Michiko understood his wish, although she was negative in the early stage.

The firm belief is stemming from his experience in the last moments of Showa Era. When Hirohito fell in the illness before the death in early 1989, Akihito represented his father in the meeting with state guests, embracing a feeling of rudeness to them. His insufficiency in the ceremonies in front of the public also made him embarrassed. “I don’t have much time. It is too late to begin preparing for my aging when I am unable,” said Akihito to his staff. Pride as the state symbol fundamentally mattered for him.

Conclusion First?

Receiving indication of wish to abdicate from current Emperor Akihito, the Experts’ Meeting on Reducing Official Duties of the Emperor held their first meeting on Monday. Although the Constitution of Japan assumes the status of Emperor to be derived from “the will of the people with whom resides sovereign power,” the experts have set the schedule to conclude the discussion by next spring. They are going to discuss legislating special law for Akihito’s abdication in the ordinary session of the Diet next year, paving the way to stepping down in 2018. Is it the will of Japanese people, anyway?

Shinzo Abe administration interpreted the words of Akihito in August as wishing to step down by 2018. “We have passed a major point of seventy-year anniversary from the end of the war and will be at thirtieth year of Heisei Era two years later,” told Akihito in his video message. To make his wish possible, Abe administration is dropping down the option of reforming Imperial House Law, which requires certain period of time for legal discussion. Special law is the fastest way for the administration to achieve the goal.

The meeting elected Takashi Imai, Honorable President of Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, and Takashi Mikuriya, Professor Emeritus of University of Tokyo, for his deputy. They will have hearings from experts on imperial issues in November. The theme will be role of the Emperor, official duty of the Emperor, how to reduce his official duties, Regency, commission of acts in matters of state, abdication, whether abdication should be a permanent rule, and status and activity of Emperor. Discussion over introducing system of the Empress was dropped.

In the polls, most people of Japan understand the wish of Akihito as reasonable, possibly with respect for his diligence in every official duty. However, that public sentiment does not endorse legislating a special law only applied to Akihito in the long history of Imperial House. Some Emperors had Ex-emperor, when they were unable to fulfill their duties. Regency was another way to support the Emperor.

Constitution of Japan assumes establishment of Regency in Article 5. While Abe administration interprets Akihito’s words as rejected Regency, rejecting Regency can be an exercise of political power by the Emperor, which the Constitution prohibits. There is a possibility of Akihito to have taken unconstitutional activity in the interpretation of Abe administration. It is reasonable for the government to thoroughly consider how Regency will work for the wish of Akihito first, before setting schedule of concluding the discussion.

Anti-nuclear Governor in Niigata

The main issue was whether to resume nuclear reactors in a power plant owned by Tokyo Electric Power Company. A new face in politics, who upheld anti-nuclear generation policy, won Niigata gubernatorial election on Sunday, defeating the contender supported by Shinzo Abe administration. Basic national policy to promote dependence on nuclear power generation will surely be damaged by the effusion of deep concern of the people in Niigata.

The election had once been supposed to be won by current Governor, Hirohiko Izumida, who was popular to the people with his firm attitude against resuming reactors in Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant. However, Izumida suddenly announced late August that he would not run for next election, because of inappropriate newspaper report on his handling of local issue not related to nuclear issue. People noticed a possibility of pressure from Abe administration, hoping his stepping down.

Leading parties in central government, Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, raised Mayor of Nagaoka City, Tamio Mori, as a promoter of nuclear power generation. Although Izumida did not name his successor, Mori was supposed to be the frontrunner of the race. It was six days before the kickoff of the race when a medical doctor and lawyer, Ryu-ichi Yoneyama, stepped forward with negative policy for resumption of reactors. Japan Communist Party, Liberal Party, Social Democratic Party and the civil groups against nuclear generation supported Yoneyama.

Mori had been leading the race with firm support by conservative voters at the beginning. But, the people in Niigata Prefecture were generally negative on nuclear power generation in their place, which electric power was mainly supplied to Tokyo. Although Niigata Branch of Japanese Trade Union Confederation, main supporter for Democratic Party, rejected to officially support Yoneyama, the leaders of DP including President Renho joined the coalition of supporting him to show determination to stand against Abe administration.

It is inevitable for national nuclear policy to be disturbed by anti-nuclear movement in Niigata. TEPCO was expecting to resume the reactors #6 and #7 in Kashiwazaki-Kariwa soon. It will take time to achieve approval from Yoneyama for resuming those reactors. “I will keep the promise that I do not allow resuming the reactors as long as safety for the residents are not fully guaranteed,” said Yoneyama after the victory in the election. Struggle over nuclear generation in Japan looks like endless.

Debris Still Left There

Half a year has passed from the first hit of Kumamoto Consecutive Earthquakes, leaving tremendous damage on local community around. The quakes caused 110 of death, 55 of which were “related death” during evacuation after they secured their lives in the quakes, exceeding 50 “direct deaths” buried under the fallen houses or buildings. While factories are mostly recovered, the people are not hopeful to restart their ordinary life with slow progress in removing debris.

According to the survey of local governments, 180,472 houses were damaged in Kumamoto and Oita, 39,211 of which were entirely or half broken. Heavy rain after the quake causing landslides extended the damage, causing five deaths. Not fulfilled by 4,052 of temporary houses built by the government, people are evacuating in 10,553 of rental houses and rooms that are recognized as temporary houses financially supported. Facilities for asylum, school gymnasiums or community centers, will mostly be closed by the end of this month.

Kumamoto Prefectural Government announced that it had removed 483,000 metric tons of debris, which shared 24.8% of all, with estimation of progress expected. But, most houses are left as they were right after the earthquake torn them down. Even how the owners wanted to rebuild their houses, debris disturbed reconstruction efforts. The government has not lifted regulation for residence in some places with concern of further earthquake or landslide.

The land of suffered area was complicatedly distorted. Straight roads or ditches were strangely bent after the earthquakes. The people realized that they had been living right on an active fault. Active fault is still active. The residents are skeptical whether they can maintain their life on it, even if they could rebuild new houses. Some people consider establishing new town, avoiding appeared active fault. But, there is no authorized information whether the earthquake will return to their place.

Although factories for car parts were also heavily damaged by the quakes, they have mostly been recovered, restarting ordinary production. While Toyota Motors compensated the loss with alternative lines in other factories, Kumamoto Earthquake caused 80 thousands of decline in car producing. Distribution of factories is a common issue for manufacturers in Japan.

Various regulations block concentrated application of necessary policies in emergency of natural disaster. Donations do not easily reach the suffered people, while the government is considering how to distribute it equally. Broken houses cannot remove until the government evaluate the collapse as whole, half or recoverable. Happiness or comfort of the sufferers does not matter under the rule of bureaucracy.

Last Election Under Unconstitutional Condition

Okayama Branch of Hiroshima High Court sentenced on Friday that the election of House of Councillors this summer was executed under unconstitutional condition in terms of guaranteeing equal value of each vote. In the election, Shinzo Abe administration achieved two-third majority for constitutional amendment. The court questioned legitimacy of the election.

The sentence was made as the first decision on simultaneous accusations to all the High Courts on one-vote value in the election. The election was executed with a systematic reform that introduced new electoral district beyond the border of prefectures. Tottori and Shimane, or Tokushima and Kochi, were integrated as one district, because of their scarcity of voters.

However, Okayama Court realized that remarkable difference of value of each vote remained. The number of eligible voters for one seat was 3.08 times bigger in Saitama Prefecture than in Fukui, which made the value of a vote in Saitama 3.08 times smaller than in Fukui. As the Supreme Court decided that the election was under unconstitutional condition in 2010 with gap of 5.00 times, and in 2013 with 4.77 times, Okayama made stricter decision on the value of one vote than that by Supreme Court.

The lawmakers in House of Councillors, as well as House of Representatives, had been reluctant to adjust the difference in value of one vote. Integrating electoral districts in local area works against Liberal Democratic Party, which is generally dominant in local districts. In the discussion of election system reform, LDP has been appealing to maintain the principle of distributing seats to each prefectural unit. But, Okayama Court criticized their argument. “The greatest reason for the difference over 3 times was unsuccessful discussion over whether or not to maintain the system based on the unit of prefecture,” said the sentence of Okayama.

LDP is going to restart discussion over electoral system in House of Councillors next month. To maintain the distribution based on prefectural unit, they consider increasing seats in the House or transferring some seats from proportional representatives to the districts. However, their idea is not sufficient to recover the gap in the value of each vote.

It makes no sense for the argument to amend the Constitution to vest House of Councillors power for representing each prefecture, as long as a lawmaker of each House are designated to represent all the people. Autonomy in Japan does not give great power to each prefecture, under strict control of central government. To make House of Councillors strong as United States Senate is, central government has give local governments its power more than ever.

Surprised by Awarding Dylan

Swedish Academy announced on Thursday that Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 would go to a legendary American folk singer and songwriter, Bob Dylan “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” The Japanese were surprised twice. Can a musician be a laureate of Nobel Prize in Literature and why not Haruki Murakami this year? The answer is blowin’ in the wind.

Newspapers introduced Bob Dylan as born in Minnesota in 1941, started activities as a musician when he was in high school, retired University of Minnesota and moved to New York, and made his debut in the first album, Bob Dylan, with Columbia Records in 1962. “It has been a half of century since Mr. Dylan made himself a standardbearer of counter culture as a singer and songwriter of protest songs,” described Asahi Shimbun.

Polkadots in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, is known as Bob Dylan bar for his fans. “While we had meeting of some fans in this bar on the day of Nobel Prize in Literature these years, it was inattentive for us not to do that this year. Lyrics, voice and rhythm of Bob Dylan is a trinity in unity. I hope more people realize his goodness by this award,” told Chief Manager, Tokyo Bob, to the press.

Most people firstly did not know why he was awarded, and eventually understood it as reasonable. “By believing in music, he explored a realm that was not entered by other litterateurs. The listeners were not only attracted by his popular songs but thrilled with his interesting words of literature,” told a critic in music, Manabu Yuasa. CD shops in Tokyo abruptly began to display the works of Bob Dylan, expecting growing sales of albums of Dylan.

Some might be skeptical why it was Dylan among other great artists in American music. If a singer and songwriter can be awarded for Nobel Prize, how about Simon & Garfunkel, Neil Young or Stevie Wonder? Which will be the brighter, Nobel or Grammy, if musicians can always be the laureate of Nobel Prize next year or later? Current tendency of focusing on surprise may degrade Nobel Prize.

Japanese fans of Haruki Murakami were disappointed as usual. They gathered in some places related to the stories of Murakami’s novels, waiting for the happy news and enthusiasm for praising him. But, as long as traditional cause of Nobel Prize should have been awarding people who contributed to peace of the world, it is still strange for the Japanese keep on expecting to award Murakami, who is not clear about how he gave power peace.