My opinion of this week(576):
My distrust against mass media
While gas prices rise, the support rate for Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's
Cabinet continues to plunge, hitting a dismal 20 percent in the latest Asahi
Shimbun survey. Nikkei Newspaper reported the same kind of research result on
Friday. Also in the survey, opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan),
which has demanded the abolition of the higher gas tax rate, was more popular
than the ruling Liberal Democratic Party for the first time since a survey
taken in August last year shortly after the Upper House election.
Voters were also divided over Minshuto's plan to submit a censure motion
against Fukuda in the Upper House when Forty-two percent said they approve the
move, while 40 percent said otherwise. If the Upper House passes the censure
motion, 60 percent of the respondents said Fukuda should dissolve the Lower
House and call an election, while 9 percent said he should step down,
according to the survey.
This is a sort of general popular voice of Japanese people which were shown
recently by two representative newspaper in Japan. Strangely enough another
major paper Yomiuri which are presenting common net site Aratanisu with Nikkei
and Asahi has not made any popular vote yet at this very important political
stage. I just wonder why it is. I feel some political intention of this
newspaper.
I happened to watch a news variety show of 4 channel at 8 PM last night. 4
channel is Nihon TV station which belongs to Yomiuri group same as Yomiuri
newspaper. The news variety show is called "Ohta Souri", in which TV variety
talent Ohta plays like Prime Minister of virtual cabinet in Japan, Some law
makers in two houses from ruling and opposition fronts, some critics and
journalists and even some TV variety talents participated in the show to
constitute members of the virtual diet of this show. I have watched this
program several times in the past. I felt some frustration every times I saw
the show in the past. It is nothing more than the variety show rather than any
serious political debate show.
I watched the program last night because I happened to have some interest in the
title of the program written in the newspaper. The title says : "Prime Minister
Ohta will make an amazing proposal tonight." I could not guess what it is as a
matter of fact. So I switched to the channel to watch the program at eight.
Surprising enough, I found at the first stage of the program that "Prime
Minister" Ohata proposed to dissolve the House of Representative in order to
settle down the political chaos at the present. The program is to let all
attendants of the show discuss the resolution proposed by Ohata.
Discussion started by all attendants. While some of those serious attendants of
law makers,especially of opposition fronts, and some critics said some
legitimate logics concerning the necessity of dissolving the House of
Representative at this moment. Most other attendants including law makers of
ruling fronts mentioned only very poor logics about why they are against the
proposal at this time.
Some of those law makers of the ruling fronts who were against the proposal
said some thing like this:"We are not in the position to decide the matter for
only rime Minister Fukuda only can do it", "Now is the time to proceed many
important political themes and we should not create any idle time for
election", "We cannot waste 80 billion yen for just election" so and so forth.
After such ridiculous debate, Ohta's resolution was voted down with a big
difference at that ludicrous farce. To end up the show, the chair woman in the
show introduced the voice from the people watching the program. She surely
introduced some voice which supported Ohta's proposal but she ended up her
message by introducing the voice of opposing the proposal. She read the voice
like this :" there is no reason why Prime Minister Fukuda should dissolve the
House of Representative.It is because Democratic Party of Japan and not
Liberal Democratic Party are responsible for all confusion of politics at this
moment."
I switched off TV and went into bed to sleep. Yes, it is only one poor variety
show provided by a TV station. But it is surely one representative Japanese TV
mass media and newspaper media as a matter of fact.
I am not frustrated by such a specific media but by the fact that most of
Japanese mass media do not state any strong message concerning the necessity
of early dissolution of the House of Representative under this chaos of Japanese
politics today. I believe they should send more strong message on it which is
their responsibility as a mass media.
2008/5/3
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(577):
Decentralization can be done only by the change of power
Editorial of Asahi Newspaper of May 9 talked about the difficulty for the
committee to promote decentralization, set up last year in the Cabinet Office.
Regardless the strong approach by be committee, all administrative offices of
various ministries are very negative and not cooperative at all to promote
many decentralization projects. The editorial describe it as "stubborn
bureaucrats" but the expression of such word itself is not appropriate
at all from my point of view. They are not stubborn against the change but
strictly negative against the concept of decentralization itself.
The editorial expect for Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Hiroya Masuda,
Ministerof Internal Affairs and Communications to show stronger leadership to
promote many of decentralization projects but such expectation will never be
attained by ruling Fukuda Cabinet.
The strong centralized bureaucrats system itself has been established under the
long monopoly of power by Liberal Democratic Party. Prime Minister Fukuda,
himself is the man who is sitting at the center of such strong centralized
bureaucrats system in Japan. How can Fukuda and Masuda get out from strong
chain of bureaucratic power built up for such long period of time.
The strong opposition against the generalization of special road finanancing by
temporary gasoline tax by ruling parties and central government offices such
as Ministry of Land and Transportation is only a part of evidence such
bureaucratic power. Regardless the very strong opposition from public pinion
and
opposition parties, ruling parties will resume the act to continue special
road construction finance law insisting to support local offices' finance.
That is not true. The ruling parties and Fukuda Cabinet just want to continue
the centralized system on road construction.
Contrary to ruling parties, DPJ (Democratic Parties of Japan) and other
opposition fronts asserts the necessity of decentralization to proceed any
big projects including road construction and any other local related public
projects.
From this point of views, I believe the decentralization of government can only
be attained by the change of power when DPJ itself or DPJ and other opposition
fronts can gain power in coming general election sooner or later.
2008/5/11
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(578)
Metabolic syndrome: Doubt about 85 cm rule
I happened to watch NHK's "Close-up Today" 7:30 pm last night. The program
introduced what is going on now in local offices and private firms about
Metabolic syndrome watching system which Ministry of Welfare and Labor
started earlier this year. I knew only a little bit about the total plan
and did not know the fact that the new plan allow the Ministry to fine any
local offices or private firms which could not meet to a certain target set
for each health insurance unions.
I began to have some anxiety about myself while watching the program.
Yes, it is really directly concerned about myself, my health and my daily
life. One of the key judgment criteria for metabolic syndrome is the size of
abdomen. If the size exceed 85 centi-meter, you are basically judged as metabolic
syndrome.
In NHK's program, there was a serious discussion between two doctors. The
one in the program was the doctor who worked as chairman of the committee
of the Welfare Ministry which introduced this 85 cm rule. The other was the
doctor comes from medical university hospital. He insisted to say that there
really exists no enough scientific reason for 85 cm rule. Why is it 85 cm ?
He insisted to say further that it is wrong to judge fatness is always a
cause for troubles for health. May be, and may be not. It is not necessarily
right to say slimness is always healthy and fatness is always unhealthy. The
old men in disease are mostly slim in their weight. Fat men tend to live longer,
though.
I felt relived when I heard the word of this doctor and agreed with him in
a way.
As a matter of fact, I belonged to slim group of people for many years. I
kept about 65 to 67 kg for many years until quite recently. My height is
170 cm, so my total height and weight balance have been almost perfect while
my size of abdomen is around 85 cm for many years as well. I have no any specific
old men diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, brain infarction and so on. But
if I go to hospital for metabolic syndrome judgment, I may tend to be judged as it
based on the present 85 cm rule.
I do not necessarily disagree with the fine system for local offices and private
firms as to metabolic syndrome, but I strongly suggest to have another look at
this 85 cm rule which is now the central issue of the total system.
2008/5/17
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(579)
Japan's role, as fifth most peaceful nation
"Japan retained its position as the fifth-most peaceful nation in the
second annual Global Peace Index ? a collaboration between international
businessman Steve Killelea and the Economist Intelligence Unit ? released
Tuesday. Ranked behind Iceland, Denmark, Norway and New Zealand, Japan is
the only Group of Eight member country to fall in the top 10 of the index,
boasting high levels of internal peace and lack of civil unrest, despite
its "tense relations" with China and North Korea."
"Measures of societal safety and security, such as the level of violent
crime, the likelihood of violent demonstrations and the number of homicides
in Japan are among the lowest in the world," the report states, highlighting
the reasons, alongside Japan's low level of military spending as a percentage
of gross domestic product, for the positioning of the country." -Japan Times
Ｉdon't know the fact before that there exists such research and appreciate
the meaning of such research report. When it comes to whether or not people
can send stable and safe guaranteed life, such index is one most important
criteria by all means. The index is very important from business point of view
as well. Any global enterprises will decide where to invest based on such
index.
The fact that Japan is the most peaceful nation among G8 is very meaningful.
We should not forget the background for this fact. Without any doubt, the
existence of article 9 of constitution, which prohibits any war actions
against any other countries has created basic foundation for such peaceful
nation wide and social environment.
The necessity to change the article of 9 of constitution has been a long
time arguments from various points of views in Japan. It is still one of
the important political issues in many general elections in the past and
may continue to be so in coming election. But majority of people in Japan
now believe that the nation should keep the principle of this peaceful
constitution regardless any minor change concerning Self Defense Forces'
actions relating some necessary peace keeping international operations
as a member nation of UN.
I think that the stance of Japanese people concerning world peace and
role of Japan in the international communities is generally right. This
GPI index justifies Japan's approach in the past and at the present,
I believe.
From this point of view, I have some great doubt about the present
international peace keeping structure that is UN Security Council for an
example. The permanent members of the Security Council of UN consists
of those G8 countries and China. Why is this? They are not all any
peaceful countries by any means according to the definition of GPI.
I know the historical background why such member were chosen as permanent
members as Security Councils. But it is now the time to review all of
the past time reason and should create new criteria for peace keeping
operation in the global community.
Some of permanent members and regular members of security councils should
be elected from many of those peaceful countries ranked high in GPI.
Japan as a G8 and one big economic power should be elected to permanent
members of Security Councils to represent one peaceful countries in the world.
Japan should have more confidence in this respect and insist more strongly
the necessity of change of the current structure of Security Council of UN.
2008/5/24
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(560):
Achievement of TICAD IV
The Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV)
closed on 30th adopting Yokohama declaration which expresses concern and
need to meet serious hike of grains and shortage of food attacking poor
African countries. Prime Minister Fukuda told that he would do his best to
propose the matter to discuss at the summit meeting in July as a chairman
of the summit at this time.
A number of countries from Africa expressed their expectation against
Japan concerning assistance and corporation to meet the food shortage for
African countries. Fukuda expressed several financial assistance plan to
Africa during this conference . Fukuda said Tokyo would gradually double
the amount of fresh official development assistance (ODA), currently around
$900 million, over five years to $1.8 billion. $4 billion in yen loans
over a five-year period will be used to build infrastructure, such as
highway networks, power systems and port facilities.
Due to the big earth quake happened in China, news on TICAD IV conference
were rather a little. People do not seem to have enough understanding about
the meaning why this meeting was held in Yokohama at this time. I personally
do not have enough understanding about the conference at first. But I have
now somewhat different view about it after I have read several news about
TICAD during the meeting for three days.
What happened and is happening at Africa is now just a summary of all what
is happening in the world today. It is exactly what have happened and is
happening in Japan as well. It is Japan's responsibility to tackle the
problems based on their experience and technical knowhow on those issues
and let those developing countries learn to solve the problems as a
developed Asian country.
Needless to say, No1 serious issue for all African countries is shortage
of food. They are facing some serious food shortage due to hike of price
of such basic grains as wheat, rice and corn. The proposal was made to
increase the production of rice in African countries rather than relying
on imports of wheat from Europe and other wheat production countries. As a
matter of fact, Japan faces exactly the same issues as to improvement of
food self-sufficiency rate. Japan will increase rice production in order to
meet the hike of price of grains and overall shortage of grains in the
long run. Japan can share many agricultural technologies and knowhow with
African nations on rice production. Japan can also provide a number of
knowhow concerning infrastructure for agricultural production and
distribution and all industries in general to African countries.
Another important issues is global warming which seems to have little effect
for African nations as far as they are concerned. It is not so. Reduction
of CO2 and greening of land and many other environmental projects are also
very important projects for any countries of African countries. The
stabilization of environment is very important for Africa to increase their
agricultural productions. Japan can also share many of important technical
knowhow on these issue and contribute them to proceed projects.
It is Japan's responsibility to help African countries in many ways as
stated above. The achievement made at this TICAD at Yokohama this time
is very meaningful in this respect. Some more concrete achievement are
expected at summit meeting in July. Prime Minister Fukuda is expected to show
a strong leadership as a chairman of this summit.
2008/5/31
Tadashi HAYASE
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