Politics as pageant

Pretty much the only reason to pay attention to domestic Japanese politics is if something dramatic happens, so I tend to root for politicians and outcomes that make for exciting television.

This year’s maverick is Horie Takafumi, CEO of internet startup livedoor, is pulling a Schwarzenegger and running as an independent in the Hiroshima #6 district. The main component of his platform seems to be getting young people interested in politics. To the corporate world, he’s infamous for being casual and no-nonsense, quite unlike every other business man.

For those of you who pay even less attention to Japanese politics than I do, first some background. Prime Minister Koizumi has dissolved the Diet and called for snap elections after the defeat of his postal reform bill by his party’s old guard. The bill called for splitting Japan Post (which is also a bank and an insurance company, among other things) into four seperate entities which would then (-_-) Zzzzzzz. . ., oh, sorry, did I lose you there? Although I support reforming the banking service, since it’s an almost unlimited source of government borrowing and is really dragging down the economy, with no reason to invest when interest rates are around 0%, &c &c, I secretly was hoping the bill would be defeated because that would produce the most interesting outcome. It really sucks when you’re trying to govern but are brought down by the old farts in your own party.

Koizumi kicked all who oppose him out of the party (excepting those too chicken to vote either way), so the leader of the old guard, Kamei Shizuka, went and formed his own party.

Enter Horie. Not content to rest on his laurels as the Bill Gates of Japan, he’s trying his tack as a politician, running against Kamei. There must not be a Japanese word for carpetbagger, because Horie is not from Hiroshima. He’s only chosen that district (with Koizumi’s blessing) for a showdown with Kamei. Horie gets my support only because he’ll make interesting news.