The politics blogs I read aren't very optimistic about his chances; for instance this post reckons he too will not last very long, because of a combination of "impossible job" and a scheduled leadership contest in a year's time.

Basically this many short-term prime ministers in a row is an indication of a systemic problem rather than a problem with any of them as politicians. It doesn't seem likely that the latest one will have any better luck...

I like the fact that he's a fiscal conservative, but I don't like the fact that he doesn't consider Japan's Class A war criminals to be war criminals at all.

mizunooto wrote:

Oh is Kan finally 寝る?

I always said that if you just learn the current Prime Minister's name you will pretty soon get through all the Kanji...

Wait until you start learning jinemiyoukanji 人名用漢字. All 986 of them, then you'll know kanji well

I was watching TV with a Japanese girl as he was elected... and she seemed awfully mad about him being chosen.  So at least one person knows who he is and dislikes him, haha.

Haha, obviously my last comment was tongue-in-cheek.

Actually, when I first came back to Japan everyone was talking about how Ozawa would probably be prime minister, but somewhat like with Maehara there was finance scandle.

In reality, I think the Japanese government is such a strong oligarchy that there's actually no difference when a certain person becomes the prime minister.  There's a small group of people who hold the most power, and they continue to hold the most power despite what happens officially in the political arena.  Obviously Ozawa is one of the biggest players.

Which is one of the reasons why people seem largely disinterested in politics in Japan.  I was really surprised when the girl I was with was upset, actually, haha.  Partly because she's a young college girl, which is not really a group in Japan that normally cares about politics, and partly because she's just kind of loopy in general.

Last edited by Tzadeck (2011 August 31, 7:45 pm)

bodhisamaya wrote:

It is a little strange having a guy leading a country the people did not elect.  Kind of like when we had Bush.

LOL

Seems like he could be good, except about the war criminal thing haha. Although his opinion on war criminals is a hell of a lot less important than his views on the economy. I hope he can actually achieve something.