The new Governor of the Bank of Japan, Haruhiko Kuroda took up his post this week, and gave his first press conference in Tokyo. He promised to make all-out efforts to fight deflation with aggressive measures and to achieve results soon.

“I’m ready to take all means available in easing monetary policy,” said Kuroda. “It’s the mission of the BOJ to do its utmost to achieve the 2 percent price stability target as soon as possible. Looking at other countries, many central banks see the time span for meeting their price stability target as two years, so it would be desirable to meet the price target within two years.”

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has raised public expectations about the economy by promoting inflation through easing measures – in other words, increasing the amount of money in circulation – as a desirable objective. These expectations have been mirrored in higher stock prices, and an approval rating of over 70% for Abe.

“Without adopting further bold easing, the 2 percent inflation target cannot be met,” Kuroda said. “I’m ready to use all possible means in order to achieve the 2 percent price stability target as soon as possible, including open-ended asset purchases. We’ll discuss with the policy board on what specific steps should be taken.”

However, the previous Bank of Japan Governor, Masaaki Shirakawa, disagreed with Prime Minister Abe over ways to kick-start the world’s third-largest economy back into life, and resigned.

Shirakawa said, “It is not a lack of cash that has kept companies from increasing capital expenditure If there was a single thing that would have cleared the fog and solved all problems, Japan wouldn’t have been in this situation for 15 years.”

Some are worried that prices will outstrip wages, and reduce the purchasing power of ordinary people, which will keep the economy stagnant. In addition, aggressive easing measures may lead to charges of currency manipulation, which will help Japan’s exports, but will hit the average consumer hard in the wallet, given that fuel to generate electricity must be imported and paid for with expensive dollars.

There are those who criticize Abe’s massive stimulus spending, pointing to years of such spending by the LDP in the past which proved to be wasteful and unproductive. In addition, even the Deputy Prime Minister, Taro Aso, has criticized the 2-year target to achieve a 2% inflation rate as “academic” and “unrealistic”.

A gung-ho central bank governor may be good for the Prime Minister’s ego, but brave words in a press conference will have to be backed by results before the rest of the world can be convinced that Japan is on the path to recovery. Such results will not be immediately forthcoming, and almost certainly there will be no visible signs of improvement before the summer’s Upper House election, which Abe hopes will put him more firmly in the driving seat.

“The members of both parties are almost all men wearing dark grey suits and discussing sensitive diplomatic problems concerning Senkaku Islands or changing the constitution of Japan without women’s opinions,” said Tomoko Satome, a doctor at Shiomidai Hospital in Kanagawa Prefecture, at a recent press conference in Tokyo.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe claims that he wants to increase the role of women in Japanese society. The new party points to his cabinet, which contains only two women, and disputes his claim.

“But it is a very gender biased society made by a male dominant society,” Satome said. “Our situation is the same as the 1960s when I was born so we must act it change it, from the bottom to top, the top to bottom.”

According to the World Economic Forum, Japan fares badly when compared to other nations in terms of gender equality rated 101 out of 135. The new party wants to redress this: better rights, job opportunities, equal pay, and adequate levels of child care for women wanting to work.

Hiroko Inokuma, an associate professor at Tokyo City University, said at the press conference, “I’m really surprised seeing women talk about politics, they spoke out and messaged about it. I believe this is the first time, and our activities brought this out wider and wider, and men can’t avoid our opinions in the future.”

The All-Japan Obachan Party fears that the traditionally minded ruling Liberal Democratic Party will promote old-style cultural values where women stay at home, stay quiet, and men work.

Hiromi Taguchi, a 26-year-old secretary, said, “Japanese women need to participate in politics. We are way too quiet, and need to speak out on all of our country’s problems and policies, not just gender issues.”

In addition to campaigning for women’s rights, the members of the party wish to draw attention to other groups within Japanese society that they see as being disadvantaged.

This new party has helped to raise women’s issues in the country. However, what they really want, they say, is more representation in government and in the prime minister’s cabinet.

TOKYO (majirox news) — Japanese farmers whose jobs are threatened by the country’s membership of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, known as TPP, demonstrated in Tokyo. It followed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s announcement that he would seriously consider joining talks on the trade pact.

“When the prime minister campaigned he promised the Japanese that he would only enter TPP negotiations if certain sectors were declared off the table,” said Satoshi Inoue, a member of the Diet. “Now the ruling party said they will leave it to Abe to make the decision on whether to join TPP. But the Japanese people will not leave it to him.”

Japan’s farmers are heavily protected by import tariffs of more than 750 percent on rice, and over 250 percent on wheat, Japan’s agriculture lobby sees its members’ livelihoods eroded by imports of cheap grain if Japan joins the pact.

Hiro Tanaka, a farmer, said, “I am from Iwate prefecture. Once TPP opens up, 100 percent of our rice growers will lose their jobs and our dairy businesses will be destroyed.”

Abe has claimed, following recent discussions with United States President Barack Obama, that he now understands that joining the TPP does not automatically mean an end to all tariffs on all goods

Diet Member Tomoko Tamura said, “I believe it will end tariffs on all imported foreign products. It will also destroy Japan’s medical insurance system and raise the price of medicine, which are now regulated by the government. It will be the US and other countries setting the market price.”

Junichi Shiraishi, Chairman of Japan’s Family Farmers Movement, said, “It will hurt the economy. That is because local economies depend on agriculture and fishing, but if these industries are destroyed through the TPP, it will eliminate entire communities in various regions.”

There are also fears that Japan will be forced to accept unwelcome imports, such as genetically modified foods and unwanted pricing structures, such as pharmaceuticals.

Abe said he will make a decision very soon on whether or not Japan will take part in these talks. But Observers say, “both sides will have to a little if there is any hope of making it happen.”

TOKYO (majirox news) — At least 350 Fukushima residents have brought a lawsuit claiming damages against the operator of the failed nuclear plant, Tokyo Electric Company (TEPCO), and Japanese government agencies they claim are responsible. The case will be heard next month on the second anniversary of one of the world’s worst nuclear accidents, which followed the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011.

The case has attracted public support from other Fukushima residents, demonstrating in Tokyo on Feb. 23.

The lawyer for the plaintiffs has said this is the largest suit ever filed against government agencies.

“My clients are seeking 535 dollars each for each month that they have been forced out of their homes and businesses,” said Izutaro Managi, the lawyer for the plaintiffs. “However, this suit is not primarily about money. Official agencies have showed negligence and need to be held accountable.”

The residents are claiming that officials were aware of the damage that a tsunami would cause, and failed to take sufficient measures against a possible nuclear meltdown.

“Since the government cannot reduce radiation levels to the way they were before the disaster, we hold them liable for the damage caused,” Managi said. “The wrong decisions were made by officials and agencies every step of the way throughout Japan’s nuclear program and following the nuclear accident.”

Many Fukushima residents claim the area around the plant is still suffering from problems triggered by the nuclear disaster.

According to lawyer Hiroyuki Kawai and speaker at the rally, “The people of Fukushima are angry because they lost their hometowns, their work and their schools. They have not been compensated and the people responsible have not been arrested.”

Demonstrator Miyako Fujita, said, “I am from Tokyo but I came here to show my support for the lawsuit and the people of Fukushima.”

Fukushima’s agricultural business is suffering. Many crops are unable to be grown, or even if they are grown, they cannot shipped because of the fear of radioactive contamination.

Observers say that this lawsuit may be the first of many to be brought in the future, as anger grows over delays in reconstruction.

TOKYO (majirox news) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is attempting to find a solution to the nearly 70-year-old issue of four Russian-occupied Islands off northern Japan. Abe spoke to a government-backed rally of approximately 2,000 former islanders and their descendants in Tokyo.

“There is no change in my resolve to do everything I can toward sealing a peace treaty with Russia after resolving the issue of the Northern Territories,” Abe said. “I want to find a mutually acceptable solution to our long territorial dispute with Russia.”

The dispute has prevented Japan and Russia from signing a peace treaty for more than 67 years after the war. They used to be Japanese territory, but Soviet forces occupied them following Japan’s 1945 surrender which ended World War Two.

“In my telephone conversations with Russian President Putin, I said that I would make efforts to find a mutually acceptable solution so we can find a lasting answer to this issue of the Northern Territories,” Abe said.

Abe plans to send former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to Russia later this month for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the territorial dispute. Mori has been a long-time friend of Putin and they share a passion for judo.

More than a few inhospitable sub-Arctic islands are at stake. Fishing rights and possible submarine mineral deposits also come into play. In addition, Japan is in a dispute with China, Taiwan and Korea over islands at the other end of the archipelago, and cannot afford too many enemies. Abe may be seeking to reach a settlement with Russia to bolster his international position vis-à-vis China. Both sides would also gain from a settlement — chiefly in the area of energy sources and supplies.

However, Japanese right-wing nationalist groups were protesting Feb.7 in Tokyo against any compromise. “Give the islands back to us,” the demonstrators shouted. But many Japanese are against these tactics.

A business women in Tokyo said, “I disagree with this demonstration by the right wingers. Our two country’s governments should just talk to each other. We don’t need this screaming in the center of the city. It’s embarrassing to us as Japanese.”

In the past, compromise solutions, where the islands would be divided between the two countries, have been rejected. However, now may be the time that both sides are ready to join hands over the table and seek the middle ground.

If Abe can indeed produce a fix to this long-standing problem, he will deserve applause for his efforts. Both countries stand to gain from a resolution of this issue, and a peaceful solution in this area may also serve as a model for Japan’s other territorial disputes.

The 6 feet 4 inches Yokohama native has fought many bouts against famous wrestlers and exponents of other martial arts, including Muhammad Ali and Pakistani wrestling champion Akram Pahalwan. These days he is a proponent for peace and human rights.

“My most famous fight was with Muhammad Ali in 1976, which ended in a draw,” Inoki said. “However, the moment of which I am most proud was in 1990 when I went to Iraq on an unofficial one-man diplomatic mission to negotiate with Saddam Hussein for the successful release of Japanese hostages right before the Gulf War.”

Often paired with fellow Japan pro-wrestling great Giant Baba in a tag team, Inoki was the first Japanese wrestler to be inducted into the World Wrestling entertainment Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2010. He has also performed with Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. As a public figure, he was so popular that he was elected to the Japanese parliament in 1989.

“I started my career when I was 17 years old, and retired from professional wrestling matches and mixed martial arts in 1994,” he said. “Now I’m a peace ambassador who arranges major pro wrestling events around the world. In fact, in 1995, I even organized a wrestling festival for peace that was held in Pyongyang, North Korea.”

Hiro Watanabe, a businessman in Tokyo, said, “He’s still very popular and strong. I believe he is successful in negotiating for peace because everyone has a common interest in sports and loves a hero.”

As a businessman, Inoki founded the New Japan Pro Wrestling organization, one of the most successful of its type in Asia.

He fought many matches against opponents practicing other martial arts, including karate, judo and boxing. He’s also been in movies, and there are toys and cartoon characters made using his image.

Dividing his time between Tokyo and New York City, Inoki continues to endorse peace and human rights, and says he uses wrestling and martial arts as a way of promoting the goal of international brotherhood.

Fuji-san - majestic - and dangerous?

Majestic Mount Fuji is an icon of Japan, and is frequently pictured along with cherry blossom as a Japanese symbol of peace and tranquillity. It is sometimes hard to remember that it is an active volcano, whose last eruption occurred a blink of an eye ago – in geological terms (1707). Indeed, in recorded history, since 781, there have been sixteen eruptions (of which twelve took place between 1083 and 1511).

Some geologists believe that major earthquakes, such as the one that occurred on March 11, 2011, are the precursor of Fuji’s eruptions. The head of Japan’s volcanic eruption prediction panel, Professor Toshitsugu Fujii, claimed last October that the magma chamber beneath the mountain was under increased pressure, and this could lead to an eruption in the foreseeable future, stating that a silent period of 300 years was abnormal, and that the next eruption could be a large one. However, heightened pressure in the magma chamber is not the only factor that can trigger an eruption.

More recently, another academic specializing in the field, retired professor Masaki Kimura of Ryukyu University, has warned of an imminent eruption, which in his opinion will occur before 2015, and points to cracks and rising magma levels, as well as a rise in the water level of Lake Sai, to the north-east of the mountain as precursors of such an event. He has already authored one book and co-authored another expounding his views.

If, however, these prophets of doom are proved correct, and a major earthquake occurs, it will be expensive. In 2004, the Japanese government estimated that an eruption of Fuji-san could cause up to some $32 billion worth of damage from mudslides and ash (by comparison, the bill for the 2011 Tohoku earthquake could reach $35 billion).

Indeed in 1707, ash covered Tokyo (then known as Edo) to a depth of at least an inch. As the world learned from the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull in 2010, ash is a serious disruptor of air travel. With the wind in the wrong direction, both of Tokyo’s airports could be placed out of action, and it has also been pointed out that ash and dust could cause chaos in the IT sector, as the air-conditioning in data centers and so on would be affected. It is also worth remembering that in several places near the mountain, the expressways, rail tracks (including shinkansen bullet trains) and main road connecting Tokyo with the industrial hubs of Nagoya and Osaka all run close together – meaning that traffic between these areas would almost certainly have to take the “back road” through the mountains.

But there is no certainty that this will happen. Though the magma pressure is indeed high, it should be noted that earthquakes and volcanic activity are difficult to predict with any accuracy, and though the conditions described are present, this is not necessarily an indication that such an eruption will occur soon, and almost certainly there will be warning signs before any such event.

As Professor Shuji Yoshida of the Department of Earth Sciences at Chiba University points out, “It’s difficult to make long-term predictions about volcanos,” adding that shorter-term predictions within days to months prior to an eruption are possible, given clues such as swelling of the mountain and more thermal and seismic activities around the volcanoes. Although Fuji-san is becoming more active, he says, there will be ample warning if the worst does come to the worst.

TOKYO (majirox news) — Japan’s constitution states in Article 9 that “Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.” However, Shinzo Abe, almost certainly Japan’s next Prime Minister following the recent election, has stated he wishes to change this, to allow for at least collective self-defense and the establishment of armed forces.

Since a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of the Diet, followed by a simple majority in a referendum, Abe may find it hard to make the change, especially since his party’s principal ally, New Komeito, is against such alterations.

“The effect of passing the amendment will be immense,” claims Kuniko Tanioka, lawmaker of Japan’s Upper House of Parliament. “The situation in East Asia will become so tense for the countries nearby, including China and South Korea. I cannot think of any good outcome by passing it.”

Political analysts say that for such an amendment to be passed, Abe must link to a more right-wing group, such as Shintaro Ishihara’s Restoration Party, which has likewise been pushing for a greater military role for Japan, and which gained the third largest number of seats in the recent election.

Though some agree with this, others feel that the change is not desirable, and that Japan should retain its pacifist anti-war stance.

Tomoko Kurosu, a secretary said, “I haven’t decided yet if I support it yet or not. Once the government discloses the details of the amendment and discusses how it will affect Japan, including our neighbors, then I will decide.”

Taro Takanaka, a retired businessman, says, “The time has come to talk about it. Personally, I don’t agree with Kunio Tanioka and don’t believe it would lead to a military confrontation with China.”

However, the economy was the big selling point for most Japanese voters, and if Abe concentrates on what many see as a side-issue, he will come under severe criticism, particularly from his big-business backers, who are relying on him to kick the economy into life. If he decides to push ahead with this, some commentators say he must act fast, using the inertia of the election to push the change through.

Observers are predicting an increased Coast Guard presence around disputed Senkaku Islands.

–

The raw figures, even crudely analyzed, do not necessarily point to a right-wing shift in Japan

TOKYO (majirox news) – “Why,” many non-Japanese are wondering, “has the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) returned to power in such a dramatic way?” The answer does not lie in the party’s popularity. Some commentators noted the support rate for the party is approximately the same as when it was forced from office some three years ago.

A mere 43% of voters voted for the LDP in single-seat constituencies, with fewer than 60% of eligible voters casting a ballot. In other words, one quarter of eligible voters voted for a party which won in a parliamentary landslide.

It seems that the LDP is the only viable alternative to the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which has disappointed the public through its failure to live up to the goals promised in its election manifesto. This disappointment was shown through the defeat of major DPJ political figures such as former Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Education Minister Makiko Tanaka. The number of Cabinet ministers losing their seats (eight) was the highest since World War II – this last statistic is hardly surprising, given Japan’s largely single-party rule during that period.

The voters failed to take into account factors which were rarely mentioned during the run-up to the election. The DPJ party manifesto was largely the work of Ichiro Ozawa, who jumped ship from the DPJ some months previously, and whose hastily-formed coalition with anti-nuclear activist Yukiko Kada’s Tomorrow Party, which slumped to single digits in this election down from 62 seats. The entrenched habits of the government workers’ uninterrupted collusion with the LDP over half a century proved to be almost impervious to change by the DPJ. Lastly, during the period of the DPJ’s power, Japan experienced a destructive and disruptive set of disasters which derailed the promised reforms.

The answer is blowing in the wind?
In the end, the “third force” parties touted by the media turned out, with one notable exception, to be not so much a wind of change as a gentle breeze, hardly able to ruffle the papers on the bureaucrats’ desks in Tokyo’s government offices.

The exception to the “third force” impotence is the Japan Restoration Party (JRP), which gained a stunning number of seats, largely in the proportional representation section of the vote. The rhetoric of former Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara and Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto persuaded many of the electorate to cast their votes against the DPJ and for the JRP, despite a somewhat muddled and at times contradictory set of stated policies.

For example, Ishihara, one of whose mantras is a devolution of regions from central government, and an end of reliance on central government ministry officials, has talked about an alliance with the LDP, whose leader Shinzo Abe has criticized as “politician-led” decisions, seeking a return to rule by bureaucrat. Hashimoto has flip-flopped on the issue of nuclear power. However, by appealing to an anti-Tokyo theme, as well as a roughly outlined form of nationalism and jingoism, the JRP managed to win more proportional seats than the DPJ (40 versus 30), and more than two-thirds the number of proportional seats of the LDP (57 seats).

It is quite possible that this party acted as a “spoiler”, siphoning votes from the DPJ by those opposed to the LDP while seeing no reason to support the DPJ, rather than attracting votes as a result of its own policies. While watching the constituency results on TV, it appeared that the number of DPJ single-constituency seats (a mere 27 seats) would have been higher had a significant number of voters voting against the LDP cast their votes for the DPJ rather than the JRP (who only gained 14 such seats).

The only other (barely) significant “third force” was Minna no To (Your Party), which picked up a mere 4 seats in the single-seat constituencies, and 14 proportional seats. The one-time principal opposition party, the Social Democratic Party, is down to irrelevancy levels with two seats overall (from five).

Is Japan drifting to the right?
Additional notes to those who have seen a reported “conservative” Japanese swing in the LDP’s victory. The LDP has pledged to restore the economy to health through its traditional methods: massive stimulus through public works projects – hardly “conservative” in the American sense. However, some critics have warned that this method will no longer be viable and the LDP needs a new approach. Indeed, while the LDP’s strategies produced results in the past, Japan was sometimes touted as “the world’s only successful socialist economy.”

Japan’s neighbors can probably sleep sound at night. The much-quoted idea that Japan will be “militarized” as the result of the LDP would appear to be a canard, though resentment has been expressed domestically over the perceived domination of Japan by the US, and there have been some growls of discontent over the US-instituted constitution. It is far more likely that the anti-central government stance of the JRP resonated far more strongly with most voters than did the remilitarization of Japan, which is opposed by most Japanese. Almost certainly Ishihara’s inflammatory remarks about Japan’s possible possession of nuclear weapons turned away more voters than they attracted.

Bottom line: the LDP has power, with a super-majority able to override the upper house if needed (as long as New Komeito remains in its camp), but it is not a popular party, and should not fool itself that it enjoys the support of the majority of the population, especially when the low turnout rate is factored into the equation. A sudden turnabout in its fortunes would still seem to be a possibility.
The views expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent the views of Majirox News

“Seventy percent of Japanese women quit their jobs after their first child,” said Yukiko Kada, leader of the Tomorrow Party of Japan and governor of Shiga. “We need to ensure that child-rearing becomes a shared responsibility involving the homes, schools and communities.

“This helps women so they are not denied career opportunities when they marry or give birth. In fact, if the gender gap were closed, many of our economic troubles would disappear, and our competitiveness would increase.”

Earlier this year in Tokyo, the head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Legarde, at a conference in Tokyo claimed that opening Japan’s workplaces to women could rescue the country’s under-performing economy.

Tsuji Yusaku, director of the Strategy for Gender Equality Institute, said, “However, Japan lacks a sense of urgency to help women enter the workplace. The government has not done nearly enough to push firms in the right direction, especially with equal pay. There needs to be tough legislation with teeth, meaning strong penalties and high fines for non-compliance.”

Japan ranked 101 out of 135 countries for the gender gap in the World Economic Forum’s annual Global Gender Report. That’s down three slots from the previous year. The country has relatively few women politicians and business executives.

Akiko Sumida, a receptionist in Tokyo, said, “I wish there was more awareness about women’s issues here — there’s not enough, and I don’t believe the upcoming election will change anything for women.”

Many observers say by ignoring its skilled women, Japan is squandering its resources.

“Women are too shy and quiet to speak out, so the system here in Japan won’t change,” Sumida said. “The politicians don’t care about us, either.”

However, Yukiko Kada is concerned, and has raised two children while working. She is the first female governor of Shiga prefecture and only the fifth female governor in Japanese history. Many women see her as a role model for Japanese women who want to excel in their careers, and work towards breaking down the barriers for future generations of Japanese women.