I know that I have repeatedly and with great effort managed to stay out of any real political topics here on the blog, but just to break my own rules a little bit, I think I have to comment a bit on the upcoming election here in Japan . As I am not a Japanese citizen I do not have the right to vote in the national election, but it's very hard to escape the media since the election is coming later this summer and this is obviously a great news focus.The current prime minister of the LDP Party; Taro Aso is a bit of a favorite of mine, despite the fact that he was given the position only after his two predecessors folded and left and he has extreme disapproval ratings in all polls shown, he still manages to wear a constant smirk and be extremely condescending towards journalists during interviews. That takes a lot of guts.
But now, the largest opposition party, the DPJ, obviously smell blood in the water and their prime candidate and leader Yukio Hatoyama is also an interesting case. He doesn’t have any smirk or behaves overly condescending, but he does look like a schemer, like he’s always thinking up new and devious plans. In fact, he wouldn’t be completely out of place as the villain in a bad James Bond movie. I’m not even going to discuss the great “manifesto” that they presented earlier today (hint: the biggest point was “we promise not to waste the tax payers’ money”).
I do pity the poor Japanese citizens who have to go out there and vote in this election; the smirk or the villain?
(Ok, before maybe I should say that I am aware that there are more parties than these two in Japan and that the options are actually not only limited to these two parties, even though they are the biggest so I am simplifying things a little bit, but whatever, if you got complaints, take it up with my political advisor)
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8 comments:
As your political advisor, may I suggest boss, having one of these:
http://son-of-gadfly-on-the-wall.blogspot.com/2009/07/north-korean-beer-commercial.html
I've always hated Mr Smirky. And all the politicians in Japan look weird, one I reckon looks like Dracula.
whoever wins the voter loose..
Reading your blog, I became nostalgic remembering the extreme right folks blaring their views from a black van.
Hey "OurManInAbiko", Did you remove the first comment because it was politically incorrect. The salaryman from India at www.salarymantale.com
Showa, everrything Our Man does is politically incorrect.
"Yukio Hatoyama is also an interesting case. He doesn’t have any smirk or behaves overly condescending, but he does look like a schemer, like he’s always thinking up new and devious plans."
I have been seeing his buggy eyes on posters for years. I am blown away that anyone would vote for him. He's got a face only a Mother could trust.....or could she??
I also remember Black Vans 2000-2001 in my area. Buncha nutless wonders behind tinted glass. The ones I almost saw anyway. ;)
For a political party to be in power for so long that the country was basically a one party state is always a bad thing, as the rot inevitably sets in - signs of such are in abundance in Japan. It might be a bit of an adjustment, but in the long term it is a necessity.
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