My opinion of this week(633):
Structural changes from prefectures and cities
At the cabinet meeting on Friday, Prime Minister Tarou Aso instructed
ministers to make more efforts to explain people how good and
effective the supplementary budget passed last week at the diet is to
stimulate economy in recession. Tarou Aso said this because he realized
the fact that people do not necessary evaluate the supplementary budget
which he believed to be a good promotional engine for economy according
to various popular researches made by several media recently.
At the debate session by two top leaders made on last Wednesday,
Yukio Hatoyama , Representative of Democratic Party of Japan, criticized
the supplementary budget is a waste of money without creating any effective
demand on economy in the long run. People in general seem to support more
what Hatoyama said at the debate rather than Tarou Aso.
Hatoyama further insisted the budget is mainly the products of bureaucrats
of various ministers at Kasumigaseki and he suggested necessity to change
such budget preparation process and execution process itself to improve
total administrative system in this country.
He appealed to make some evolutional change of the country from centralized
bureaucratic structure to decentralized local governments structures. It
seems Tarou Aso does not really understand what Yukio Hatoyama is talking
about. A lot more people are now seem to understand more and agree with more
about what Hatoyama talks about more than Tarou Aso conventional political
approach.
According to the news report on Friday, Toru Hasimoto, Governor of Osaka
Prefecture assured Hidenao Nakagawa, the former Secretary of Liberal
Democratic Party, that ruling LDP and Komei Party will surely be defeated
by DPJ in coming general election for ruling front is not trying to conduct
any structural changes as far as Kasumigaseki reform is concerned. Toru
Hashimoto must have admitted the fact that DPJ is trying to do something
new concerning the reform of Kasumigaseki by referring some concrete measures
such as the ban of Amakudari (reemployment of high ranking bureaucrats to
semi-government firms) as an example. People in general are now more
interested in this theme than the conventional style of public works made by
central ministries.
Since Toru Hashimoto became Governor of Osaka, many more governors started
saying lots against central ministries concerning various administrative
matters and public works shared by central ministries and each prefectures.
Such phenomena have never been seen before. Various ministers are now obliged
to explain contents of all accounting figures when they ask each prefecture
to pay their quota for national public works. Some prefectures even refused
to pay them unless they confirm the appropriateness of such request from the
nation. Such things have never happened before in long Japanese politics. It
is very obvious that local governments start to have more independent mind
against central government. That's a big change I talk about.
I think Prime Minister Tarou Aso still underestimate this general trend
happening in Japanese politics. He seems to underestimate the change of mind
of people and change of mind of local governments officers. The birth of
two new mayors at Nagoya and Saitama supported by DPJ is another case which
exemplified the new movement in Japanese political world. Two new mayors
defeated conventional central government oriented candidates overwhelmingly
in the election at two big cities.
Both Tarou Aso and many of LDP executives still don't understand the meaning
of their defeat of their candidates and victory of those candidates supported
by DPJ. Two new mayors promised citizens to make some drastic change of city
assembly and administrative reform to attain resident tax cut. They don't
talk much about public works as Tarou Aso asserted in his supplementary budget.
The real structural change in politics in Japan will happen at those cities
and prefectures guided by those new elected mayors and governors. It is very
possible that decentralized political structure may be established when DPJ
will win the power in coming election by defeating status quo Tarou Aso and
LDP now in power.
I look forward to seeing this happen as soon as possible.
2009/6/6
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week (634)F
Meaning of Kunio Hatoyama's resignation
Effectively ending a battle over the leadership of Japan Post Holdings Co.,
Kunio Hatoyama resigned Friday as internal affairs and communications minister.
Hatoyama submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Taro Aso, who had tried
to persuade Hatoyama to accept the reappointment of Yoshifumi Nishikawa as
the president of Japan Post Public Corporation.
However, Hatoyama, whose approval was needed for the reappointment, refused
to accept Aso's compromising proposal. He had routinely criticized Nishikawa's
management abilities on a number of issues, including Japan Post's plan to
sell its money-losing Kanpo no Yado inns to Olix company whose chairman was
involved in the postal privatization process.
As a@matter of fact, the battle between Hatoyama and Nishikawa is not major
issue by itself. The real issue is the whole process of privatization of
Japan Post Office which was proceeded by Koizumi Cabinet. There were a number
of problems and involved in the process of privatization and Kanpo no Yado
is just an example as such among several contradictory issues. Prime Minister
Tarou Aso himself once said he was not necessarily for the whole process of
privatization of postal service. There still exists a number of controversies
on privatization of postal service even inside of LDP.
Prime Minister Also is obliged to admit the reappointment of Nishikawa as the
president of Japan Post for there would rise a lot more criticism come from
major groups inside of the party which has proceeded the privatization of
postal service under Koizumi's leadership.
Then, Also finally told Hatoyama to resign from the position. By accepting Hatoyama's
resignation, Ado may have avoided a prolonged and embarrassing showdown
within his administration over the reappointment of Nishikawa. But the
controversy could still raise questions about Aso's leadership ahead of the
next Lower House election, which must be held by September.
Hatoyama, a Lower House member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is the
brother of Yukio Hatoyama, president of opposition Minsyuto (Democratic Party
of Japan). He suggested the possibility of leaving LDP at his press interview
after resignation. This means he and some of his group members will form new
political party and start working with DPJ to defeat LDP now in power.
Kunio Hatoyama said in the press interview that the history will exemplify the
fact that series of his action concerning Nishikawa's reappointment at this
time was quite right in any respect. He said that might happen at least in a
year or so.
He intended to say that Aso administration and LDP will loose power for sure
in coming general election in next 100 days at the longest and new DPJ
administration will take several actions concerning privatization of postal
service including Kanpo no Yado issues, when get power. The decision made by
Prime Minister Aso at this time will be reviewed again under new
administration. That's what Kunio Hatoyama would like to say.
From my point of view, I don't think it would happen in a new administration
even if change of power would have been realized. It is because a lot more
very important issues and themes which will be picked up by new
administration.
The change of power is the whole concern now for opposing fronts and for
people in this country. Konia Hatoyama will not be a major player any more
in new administration for there exists a lot more important issues to be
played by many more key players in politics in coming new era of politics
in Japan.
2009/6/13
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(635):
Voice from the heaven
Takanori Okubo, first secretary for Ichiro Izawa, the former Representative of
Democratic Party of Japan, was arrested by Tokyo District Prosecutor Office
on March 3 for illegal receipt of contribution from Nishimatsu Construction
Company. Mikio Kunisawa, the former President of Nishimatu Construction
Company had already been arrested before the arrest of Takanori Okubo for
the said illegal contribution for Ichirou Ozawa's political agent offices.
The first trial for Mikio Kunisawa started yesterday at a Tokyo District
Court. At the beginning of the trial, prosecution statement was read by a
prosecutor. Prosecutors stated money contribution from Nisimatu to Ozawa
side in this case is against the Political Money Contribution Act in
some ways. Those contributions were made to get favors from the side of
Ichiro Ozawa who is very influential in Tohoku districts for various
public construction works. A good amount of money were contributed from
Nishimatu to Ichiro Ozawa's political agents to get favorable treatment
in the process of getting orders.
The prosecutor in the trial referred the word of Mikio Kunisawa saying
the voice from the heaven was heard from the side of Ichiro Ozawa so that
Nishimatu Company was obliged to continue to make those illegal
contribution against Ozawa side in many years.
The lawyer for Takanori Okubo denied such statement made by the prosecutor
at this first trial. There is no such fact that Takanori Okubo worked for
Nisihmatu Company to get orders on such public works in Tohoku district
by receiving such contribution money.
"The voice from the heaven" sounds really strange for me, when I heard
the word at TV news. What does it really mean by it?
The lawyer for Takanori Okubo said after the trial that there are a lot
of politicians who received contribution money from Nishimatu Company
in ruling Liberal Democratic Party. They are the men in the "heaven" but
Ichiro Ozawa was not and is not as a matter of fact. Why did prosecutors
did not pay any interests on voices from those politicians from ruling party?
The prosecutor office surely paid special interest in the case of money
contribution against Toshihiro Nikai, Minister of Economy and Industry
of Aso Cabinet for some while. But they did not take any action against
him at last. A prosecution council committee, third party auditing
function, protested the decision made by Tokyo Distirict Prosecutor's
Office and said the Prosecutor's should prosecute the case of Toshihiro
Nikai in the same way as the case of Ichiro Ozawa. The committee's
assertion sounds very reasonable for me.
Amazingly@enough, the trial for Mikio Kunisawa will finish in next
two weeks or so. He will be sentenced for a penalty of a year and
six months imprisonment but the penalty will be suspended. But the
schedule for the trial for Takanori Okuba has not even decided yet. It
is said the first trial will be made in some time in September after
the general election is over by that time.
If we look at all of those circum stances, actions taken by prosecutors
offices are obviously very unfair and unreasonable. The statement issued
by prosecutor's at the trial provided again a big political damage against
Ichiro Ozawa and Democratic Party of Japan when the general election will
be made soon.
Katuya Okada, Secretary of the Party casted some doubt about the statement
made by the prosecutor's office after this trial, but I believe that he
should protest much stronger by pointing out obvious unfairness and
unreasonable treatment of the prosecutor's office as far as this Nishimatu
case is concerned.
2009/6/20
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week (636)
Win and loss
Shogi champion Yoshiharu Habu successfully defended his Meijin title here on
Wednesday, beating challenger Masataka Goda 4-3. Habu has won the Meijin
tournament six times in total, and currently holds three other titles: Osho,
Kisei and Oza. Goda has made one other attempt for the Meijin title in
2007, when he lost to Toshiyuki Moriuchi 3-4. I clapped my hand when I read
the news in net. I am a fun of Yosiharu Habu for many years.
I play shogi myself from time to time.I used to go out to attend shogi game
center to play shogi in the town nearby where I lived. I can enjoy playing
on line internet shogi these days. I choose some proper opponents when I log
in online game center or some opponents choose me to play with.
On-line shogi is much more interesting than playing with PC. PC shogi
software have been improved greatly these days and some software are said to
be very competitive with professional shogi players. I don't play with PC
at all for it it more frustrating when I am defeated by PC rather than man
players. May be this is different from PC shogi players.
When I play online shogi, the opponent is a man without doubt. When the
opponent is settled, I start guessing what kind of man he is. Sometime
it is a woman judging from nickname indicated in the display. Sometimes
the man seems to be playing in some foreign cities. Some chatting is
possible by typing PC while playing shogi. It is a kind of enjoyable
process indeed compared with playing with PC.
It takes usually between 20 minutes to 40 minutes in total. Winning
percentage of my online syogi is not quite good at all may be 50% or less.
I used to get very frustrated when I lose the game. I tend to challenge
new games over and over again until I can win. Some times I lose the five
or six times in row and keep getting lower grade in the game center.
When I played in a town play center, I was ranked syodan (first dan level)
but after I started playing in on-line shogi center, I kept loosing the
grade and I am ranked now only to 6 or 7 kyu ( lower class than dan )
to play with opponents. The level of on-line game center may be one of the
top class compared with various play center as such in towns. I feel I play
much stronger than before compared with 20, 30 years ago although I am now
in such low grade now.
I still get frustrated of course, when I loose games at on-line center, but
not quite much compared with before. I think I can now enjoy playing game
itself rather than just win or loose. I can stop playing game may be for
maximum two hours, or for three to four games. I can objectively evaluate more
or even try to evaluate the contents of game how good and bad on each of
my decision I made at each turning points in the game. Sometimes, some
opponents use PC software to get best answer at each stages of game although
it is prohibited to do so at on-line center. I just wonder why they do it.
To find a good, better,and may be the best answer by oneself in each
situation in any games is the purpose of enjoying such on-line game.
I am quite satisfied, of course, when I win in a game by making a series of
good tactics and approaches at each phases of the game. I am frustrated a bit
when I loose a game by making some serious mistakes in selecting tactics in
the game. But I can now accept such failure more frankly than before
admitting my mistakes in the game.
To win or to loose is very important, of course. But I can now have more
aggressive way of thinking while I play on-line shogi these days. The
important matter is not necessarily to win or to loose. The learning process
of success and failure in any games and in any doing is very important.
I think I can now enjoy such learning process in any other hobbies such as
playing piano, writing blog, making senryu (a short poem) and any other hobbies
I enjoy at present.
2009/6/27
Tadashi HAYASE
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