Reform for Nothing

Without any precise definition, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated the word “reform” thirty-six times in his policy speech to the Diet on Thursday. As far as the people have realized, the highest priority for Abe has been on revising post-war history of Japan. It is fair for the people to suppose that his reform must be synonym of revisionism. Abe is breaking down traditional power structure in Japanese society without showing actual vision for the future.

Abe symbolically raised agricultural policy reform as his determination to tackle on established power in Japanese society. “What is the cause of this reform? It is for creating strong agriculture and increasing income of farmers,” told Abe in his policy speech. He stressed abolishment of privileged status of Japan Agricultural Cooperatives for the first time of these sixty years. For Abe, new and strong agriculture was something “young people could develop new frontier with their own passion.”

This reform is basically a copy of old reform campaign taken by his political mentor, Jun-ichiro Koizumi, about a decade ago. Koizumi labeled old mainstream fraction inside Liberal Democratic Party as resistance against necessary reform. Abe targeted agricultural cooperatives instead. It is true that agricultural cooperatives have had strong grip on farmers. On the other hand, the cooperatives provided information and technology for products with high quality. Although Abe presented a process of the old system, no prescription was shown for his “new agriculture.” “Do it yourself” is always the benchmark of Abe’s policy.

Acknowledging a growing concern on social separation, as raised by Thomas Piketty, Abe seemed to have been careful in safety net for women and children. He inserted an episode of a mother whose daughter had dropped out of mid-school and spent her young life in “free school.” “Poverty of children is a serious problem related to social justice, in which efforts are rewarded,” told Abe. However, it has been the basic concept of Abe administration that redistribution would disturb vigorous economic activities. People may see Abe’s conviction of social safety net as a double standard.

Not brave enough, Abe did not talk much about historical revisionism, collective self-defense right or amendment of the Constitution. He touched with Japan’s deep reflection on World War II, effort for building peaceful and democratic state and contribution to international peace and security, without mentioning seventieth anniversary statement of him. On security legislation and the constitutional amendment, he only showed his positive mind on them in his speech. He looked like taking advantage of the tendency of Japanese people who blindly approve political campaign for “reform.”