October 31, 2017
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
The previous text has been omitted.
A campaign that felt like déjà vu
Fujii
There is no need for the Japanese to imitate foreign political systems.
There is no point in aiming for an Anglo-Saxon-style two-party system.
In the case of Japan, a "one and one-and-a-half party" system is exemplary.
There is one strong party, and an opposition party acts as a critical force.
Some people compare it to the roles of the leading actor (shite) and supporting actor (waki) in Noh theatre, but the shite is the shite and the waki is the waki.
It is the Japanese party system.
Takayama
In the Edo period, Machi-bugyō (samurai officials of the Tokugawa shogunate) would have been the equivalent of playing three roles at once: judge, prosecutor, and lawyer.
Fujii
That's what Toyama no Kin-san is like! Even the witness is the same person (lol).
Takayama
The Swedish doctor Thunberg (1743-1828) wrote, "There is no objection to the verdict at all. The law book is probably the thinnest in the world."
In short, there was no foundation for the two major political parties in Japan to begin with.
If anything, the factions within the LDP were fulfilling that role.
It would be better to have a "one and one-third party" than a "one and one-half party."
Fujii
I might be misunderstood, but my favorite opposition party is the Japanese Communist Party.
They are a reliable opposition party (laughs).
I think, "Yes, you guys should keep being the opposition party without wavering!" (laughs)
Takayama
Communist parties around the world are apologizing for their past wrongdoings.
Following their example, Kazuo Shii should also apologize.
After all, he still says things like "abandon the Emperor system" and "revolution."
The fact that he hasn't apologized is his mistake (lol).
Fujii
That's precisely the infallibility argument.
I often tell Asahi readers, "Stop reading this half-baked newspaper and switch to the Red Flag" (lol).
Takayama
That's a good idea (lol).
Another interesting thing happened in this election.
At that time, Hoshi Hiroshi of the Asahi Shimbun asked Mr. Abe, "What is the situation with the comfort women issue?"
Mr. Abe replied, "Mr. Hoshi, isn't it because your Asahi Shimbun newspaper spread the story of a con man named Yoshida Seiji?"
In other words, he was saying that it was "fake news."
Even before the election was announced, the party leaders debated at the Japan National Press Club.
This time, a man named Yuzuru Tsuboi from Asahi Shimbun came out and asked about the Morikake issue.
Mr. Abe replied, "You didn't print the story about former Ehime Prefecture Governor Kato Moriyuki in the Kake issue, did you?"
Tsuboi was flustered and said, "No, we did print it."
According to Sankei's Rui Abiru, the room was full of laughter.
Fujii
So Abe got the better of him.
Takayama
It's like déjà vu.
Tsuboi must follow Hoshi Hiroshi and become a newscaster for TBS's "NEWS23" (lol).
Also, like the former president of Asahi, Kimura Tadakazu, the current president, Watanabe Masataka, will be fired, and circulation will be cut in half.
That's how it's going to turn out (lol).
This article continues.
2024/9/5 in Onomichi