OK, here we go again! It is election time here in Japan! Though it is for the "Sangiin," or the House of Councillors. The upper house. Equivalent to Britain's 'House of Lords.' However, unlike the House of Lords, the House of Councillors is fully elected.
At the moment, no one party controls the House of Councillors. Its 242 seats are split with the Democratic Party of Japan having the largest block, at 109, with the Liberal Democratic Party next, at 82.
However, the House is controlled by the Democratic Party of Japan as they have entered into a coalition agreement with 2 smaller parties to get them over the 121 seats they needed to push things through. They are in coalition with the People's Democratic Party, and New Party Nippon.
These parties also joined the DPJ in coalition when the DPJ swept the previous government from power in the Lower House elections of 2009. However, the DPJ does have enough seats that they dont need a coalition. Also, the People's Democratic Party left the coalition in 2010 on the back of a failure by the DPJ and its leader, Yukio Hatoyama to relocate the US base in Okinawa out of the prefecture, or even out of Japan.
So. Should we be excited by this election? Er, well... It is full of old grey men like usual. However, the DPJ have managed to inject a little glamour with the use of one of the ministers sitting in the government. A lady who is not in the Upper House, but is out campaigning on the DPJ's behalf. The lady is Renho. She goes by a single name now...
Something she picked up from an early career in modelling, and later as a TV presenter!
Still, what about the policies? Well, there are many which are getting the public interested, such as Prime Minister Kan's recent suggestion that there should be a debate over raising consumption tax (VAT) from its current 5% to 10%. This really has exorcized the Japanese. Though recently, in Britain, the same tax was raised from 17% to 20%!
Another issue that has begun to raise its head has been the national debt. In Japan, the debt amounts to just over 200% of the Japan's GDP. However, the government has been able to raise the debt so high, since 94% of the government bonds are held by the Japanese themselves, investing their savings. However ,the debt will reach a choking point!
However, two issues seem to have really got quite a few groups going. 1 issue actually, is all about the rights of a married woman. As it is, in Japan, if my girlfriend and I get married, she will have to take my family name. It is not just tradition, but the law. However, it is worth noting that there is a small bit of turnabout. If the family only has girls, then the oldest girl gets married, then in order to keep the family name going through history, he has to change his name to hers. However, if he is the oldest in his family, then he gazumps her.
The DPJ came to office with a pledge to look at the law, and write into law that women, should they want to, could opt to keep their first family name. It is a kind of opt-in thing. If they do nothing, then their name is changed to that of the husband. Unless they apply to keep their first name.
Another issue, is the right of permanent residents to vote in local elections. This has aroused many nationalist Japanese to protest.
They do not want foreigners given the vote, as they see it as diluting Japanese culture and nationality. They insist on foreigners naturalising first.
I can understand that. Except Japan is famous for making the naturalisation process as opaque as humanly possible. If you want a Japanese passport, then you have a serious amount of hurdles to jump through!
From my point of view. If they dont want to change the naturalisation process, then they should allow foreigners to vote in local elections. This is not going to impact on the direction of the nation like a national election, it is only concerned with garbage collection, the local school where my child would go to, etc. I pay tax, I should have the right to have a say in how it is spent.
It is not something unusual. Many countries already do something like this.
For example, in the UK, if you are legally resident in Britain, and hold a British, Irish, or Commonwealth passport, you can vote in national elections. If you are legally resident for 5 years, you have the right to vote in local and EU elections only. If you are from the EU, you gain that right as soon as you arrive in Britain, and get yourself on the local register.
Going back to the Japanese voter issue. If they want permanent residents to go through naturalisation, they need to use a carrot, occasionally, rather than keep hitting us with a stick. If they want to keep the barrier to naturalisation high, then a few incentives would help. One would be rights to vote in local elections. Almost as a reward. "Well done for applying to stay in Japan permanently! Here is a local vote! Want more? Then you have to do more!" The next step of course, to gain our full rights, is to naturalise!
Alternatively, they need to make the naturalisation process easier. If they refuse to allow us any rights, then make the process for becoming full Japanese clearer and more straight-forward. Currently, the rules are in place, but immigration officers are notorious for using their own interpretation too freely. Such as changing the number of years from 5, to 7, to 10. Some even claimed you need proof of a relationship with a Japanese woman (If you are a man). Marriage would be best, but a declaration of love MAY suffice...
Still, this issue is likely to roll on. The DPJ is known for being more liberal, and each time these issues rise up, they gain more momentum before succumbing. One day, one day...
Still, the election is interesting in itself. If the DPJ can gain seats, then it would be possible for them to jettison their coalition partners, and govern as they want. Rather than as they have to now, paying attention to the needs of their much smaller partners.
However, this scenario is unlikely to play out. Hatoyama's failure to relocate the US base, and recent financial scandals look like they have dented the DPJ's chances, that whilst there is a strong possibility to gain seats, they will not be able to gain enough for an outright majority. Indeed, it is possible that their partners lose seats, to the point that the current coalition can no longer command a majority.
It is going to be interesting to see how it all pans out. But I cant wait! At least, as a non-permanent foreigner who has pretty much no say in this, I will be happy to see it finish. It will mark an end to those blasted loud speaker trucks!
PS
I was doing a little digging, and to be honest, I am impressed with Minshuto (DPJ), they have developed a brilliant English-language website, as well as launching "MNN" Minshuto News Network on Youtube. Their news network, in English! Music is a little "VHS-1980's" but the fact that they actually HAVE this is a huge bag of points on their side!
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