Mighty Koizumi

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.