Blooming Arrogance

Visible or invisible, arrogance covered the conference. The Liberal Democratic Party, the leading party of Japan chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, held on Sunday annual national convention in Tokyo. After the landsliding victory in general election of the House of Representatives last December, LDP has been relieved from its slump as an opposite party of the administration of Democratic Party of Japan. Now the leaders of LDP is targeting to another victory in the election of the House of Councillors in this early summer. However, voters are watching how LDP reviewed its history.

The arrogance was shown in the speech of its leader. “Let the country named Japan bloom in the center of the world. I will retake the pride of Japanese nations by winning the election of the House of Councillors,” told Abe in opening remarks of the convention. Friends were worried about it. “You must not be arrogant, even though everything has been going well. You should also not go forward with haste,” said Natsuo Yamaguchi, the leader of New Komaeito, the partner of cabinet coalition.

Abe’s self-confidence is overwhelmingly baseless. He seems to be confident on his handlings of economics because of the move of markets preferable to him. Actually, stock market rallied after his inauguration. But it was based not only the Japan factor, but the US factor. With the escape from fiscal cliff at the end of last year, New York Stock Exchange enjoyed rallying and marked record high of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. There is no fundamental evidence that Abenomics was right decision.

He also emphasized his success in diplomacy. “The close tie of Japan-US alliance was reformed completely,” told Abe. Had that tie been broken? Is the tie in perfect condition? While he accepted US request to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, there are critics of Japan’s participation in US. Both governments are promoting agreed plan of relocating Futenma Marine Air Base to another place in Okinawa, as well as former DPJ administration. Having changed nothing, his assailing was baseless. In terms of diplomacy, he had done nothing on Senkaku issue, except accusing the Chinese activities only inside Japan.

Keeping on saying “we are the champions,” LDP is trying to collect votes in the election of the House of Councillors. Abe set a goal to take 64 or more seats with New Komeito to get simple majority in the House. While he said he would carefully listen to the nations, he often refers to seeking his personal goals, including constitutional amendment or reviewing the Kono Statement on comfort women. The point is whether the voters have insight about what he really is going to do.