My opinion of this week(407):

Strange and abstract words in politics

In My opinion of last week, I wrote many empty and unproductive 
discussions done at Diet. Prime Minister Koizumi's  wording has been
questioned which is a part of the reason why discussion at Diet lacks
a sense of tension and sincerity. 

There are many strange and abstract words used in discussion done at 
Diet. Such wording exists, of course, in other Japanese society, but
especially used  very often in Diet and political world.

For an example, Hara san pointed out one of such example at recent ML.
In order to call each other at Diet, lawmakers often say "Hara Sensei"
rather than just "Mr. Hara " or "lawmaker Hara". "Sensei" means teacher
in English and it seems quite alright to express a kind of respect by
calling that way. But it mostly goes too much. There exists no such use
of words in other Japanese societies except very professional fields 
such as medical and law. 

Yes, lawmakers are elites and professionals but they are representatives
elected by people. Lawmakers and high rank bureaucrats should be servants
for people. People have been bothered by a feeling of strangeness against 
such circumstances in political world where they call each other such
way. There were many arguments to stop to call that way but they never
stop it so far.

Another examples of strange wordings in political world are more 
important as a matter of fact. 

Why are there so many empty, unfruitful, unproductive discussion going
on at Diet?  It is because they always lacks concreteness and real 
substance.

Question itself is very general : "Can you do it?" Most of answer made 
by ministers and high rank bureaucrats are more general :"We will take it
into consideration" "We will do as much as possible", "We will make the
best effort" and so and so forth.

Any of such general answer will never be allowed in private business 
corporation. If any of executives continues to make such kind of reply to 
his boss, they will loose their jobs.

Prime Minister is loosing popularity among people these days because of
lack of accountability. He have not explained what he is doing and trying
to do more concretely and specifically to people of Japan. Popularity rate
for Koizumi Cabinet has now dropped to 33%. But people cannot find a 
candidate for a new Prime Minister to replace Prime Minister Koizumi. 

Why are there no  great political leaders exist in Japan who can talk
his political conviction, grand designs to build a new nation more 
concretely with more specific time schedules? 

2005/2/5
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion of this week(408):

Prevention of nursing care 

NHK's Closeup Today on Thursday introduced how some local public offices
are now  trying to practice prevention of nursing care for elderly people.
They are helping elderly people to make muscle training so that they will
be able to do many things by themselves that they rely on public nursing
care before. 

Yes, such thing as a muscle training is a typical example of prevention
of nursing care. Japan is rapidly aging. Unless the Government would 
take some fundamental action, Japanese nursing care insurance  system
will surely break down. Prevention of nursing care is to reduce a number
of elderly people who need public medical and nursing cares. They are
physically trained so that they will be able to live life without or
less public nursing cares. 

Such kind of prevention cares are  necessary not only for saving cost
but also for happiness of people. People must feel happier by doing
things by themselves rather than several care services.

It is fine that the country or local government offices are now trying to
do a lot of such prevention programs. But more basic preventive actions
must be started by each individual elderly people. Their strong will and
motivation for health seem to be more important in along with any of such
public help.

Physical strength is not only one in question. Elderly people are now asked
to have stronger mental and intellectual capacities as well. The question
is how they can build up such mind and spirit  in younger days so that 
they will be able to spend happier elderly life.

2005/2/12
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion of this week(409):　

Money game or regulation game?

The hottest topic in this week was  the purchase of stock of Nippon Radio 
Broadcasting Corporation by Livedoor. Livedoor won the advantage at first 
over Fuji TV Corporation to control management of the corporation but
Fuji resisted back in various ways later on. No body really knows what will
happen from now.

However, it seems that President Horie of Livedoor is overall in a difficult
position at the moment. His strategy to realize business tie-up with Fuji TV
by having majority share of Nippon Radio Broadcasting Corporation which is
a big shareholder of Fuji TV is quite reasonable as far as I understand. 
But there are increasing criticism against it among mass media, political
world and even in business world. The overall development is not quite 
favorable for President Horie in this respect.

Purchase of broadcasting firms by other business firms is common daily 
practice in US. But in Japan, since this matter brought up, there were a lot
of criticism from people in politics. For example, Secretary General Hosoda
and LDP Secretary Takebe commented that such money game does not fit to 
Japanese society by itself. What do they mean by that?

This kind of comments remind us the fact that Japan is still a very 
restricted society in general. Many of mass media which are competitors 
against Fuji TV are taking the same kind of stance as to their news report 
on this issue. It is a very strange phenomenon from my point of view.

The most extraordinary comment was the one made by Chairman of Fuji TV. He
said: " Is money a almighty in capitalism ?  It is not reasonable to
bring up business tie-up through such money game."  I really don't understand
what he means to say by that. What is wrong with a money game? How business
firms are managed or controlled is basically the process money game itself.
It is quite natural that whether or not any firms really succeed  even after 
such money game depend on many other strategic actions they will take in
along with money game.

The fact that there existed many of such strange comment made by politicians
and even business executives tell the fact that Japanese broadcasting business
is still protected in many ways by government restrictions. They keep 
monopolistic positions in various ways  thanks to several regulative measures
taken by Government. 

We don't know what will happen from now on this issue. There are so many 
complicated matters involved with this issues. The most important point of
this issue is very clear. Which rule of game are going to be  played mainly 
to decide the issue?  I believe the principle rule of money game is to be 
applied any how rather than the rule of regulation as some politicians 
implied. 

2005/2/19
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion of this week(410):

Economic sanction

As a result of DNA analysis of skeleton, the born of Megumi Yokota
sent back from North Korea was found an impostor. North Korea answered
back to Japanese Government that kind of judgment was quite wrong without
any scientific base. They further indicated they had no concern at all about
economic sanction which Japanese Government suggested several times in the
past.

Japanese Government's reaction against this is same old. They issued the
statement saying they would possibly go ahead with several economic sanctions
if North Korea continues this kind of unfaithful attitude. Prime Minister
Koizumi said in low-keyed way of speaking at news conference: "Well, we have
to keep trying to find out their true intent as I often said in the past."
What is he talking about? There is no real intent as such. North Korea knows
that Japanese Government will never go on for economic sanctions. They knows
Japan is just like a boy who cries wolf in fables of Aesop. 

North Korea is a very strange country as a matter of fact. They suddenly
declared they would leave from the six-party talks admitting they are
keeping some number of nuclear bombs at the moment. China, the chairman
country of six-party talks,dispatched startlingly a delegate to North Korea
to find out their intention. Then, North Korea  withdrew  the former word
very easily saying they would come back to six-party talks if some conditions
meet.    

Regardless such a big hostility shown to US, Bush administration is very
cautious against North Korea. Bush started Iraq war just because Iraq might
have mass-destruction weapons including nuclear bombs. Contrary to it ,
Bush is very very discreet in taking some actions against North Korea. 
United Nation is the same way.   

A high ranking officer in charge of North Korea in UN warned Japan not to
start any economic sanctions at the present. Why is this? Why are all
world so slow in taking stronger actions against this rogue country. All
know that this is a rogue country but no harm for a while. Is that the
reason that they are so slow to take any actions?

Mr. and Mrs.Yokota and others whose families were abducted by North Korea
are insisting most strongly to start economic sanctions against North Korea.  
They insisted it although it involves a great risk about the life of their
abducted families who may still live alive in North Korea. But they demanded
economic sanction to Japanese Government because it is the only way to
turn around the deadlocked situation. 

I just wonder if it is a real diplomacy. Why is Japanese Government  so
weak against North Korea without taking any firm and concrete action against
such evils done by North Korea? 

I understand the argument that any economic sanctions  only by Japan
will not be so effective. Then Japan should move more aggressively about
collective economic sanctions under the corporation of international world
including UN. This is the best and the last alternative Japan could take to
solve the serious problem in front of us.

2005/2/26
Tadashi HAYASE