It was rather obvious to me on the streets of Japan last week (and on their television) that Junichiro Koizumi looked like a winner. And he was – big. So it’s hard to take any credit for prognostication – I didn’t make a prediction anyway. What is surprising, although mildly, is that the most charismatic – and in many ways progressive – politician on the world stage today is Japanese. That country always had the reputation for having the dullest, consensus-oriented prime ministers. It’s yet another example of changing times.
IIRC, Roger, your earlier post said that the polls were predicting a close election, but it sounds like Koizumi-san won a solid victory. Good news. I’ll say it again: That hairó further proof that Japanese engineering is a marvel.
From the article:
With a victory under his belt, Koizumi is expected to travel to New York this week for a U.N. General Assembly meeting, where he will reiterate Japan’s desire for a seat on the Security Council, a campaign that shows little sign of early success.
Come on Koizumi pull this one off!
Well, I was a little concerned about all his references to Manchukuo in his acceptance speech…
It was the “Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere” that got my attention. I know I’ve heard that phrase before….
The big GREY hair, yay!
(Even more than Richard Gere in Pretty Woman.)
No nukes, no security council yet.
Tom Grey ó Hey, who needs nukes when you got Gamera?
The Babe Theory of electoral politics wins again.
Koizumi, Howard, Blair, Bush? But there were so many protestors.
Let’s not forget this election was a referendum on the partial privitization of over $3 trillion in postal savings accounts, in many cases the life savings of an ordinary Japanese family.
Koizumi’s huge landslide was, in that sense, also a victory for George W. Bush and others who wish to partially privatize social security. It was a victory for all who believe in capitalism and yearn for prosperity everywhere–around the world.
Accordingly, you can look for an absolute mimimum of play in the mainstream media. Only the people believe in capitalism here, not the media.
Japan on the Sec Council and only one seat for Europe. Japan lives in a tought neighborhood that will get tougher, so it will hang close to the U.S.