DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama: Japan must shake off US-style globalization

August 23, 2009
By Ken Worsley

A translation of an opinion piece entitled Japan must shake off US-style globalization by Democratic Party of Japan leader Yukio Hatoyama appears in this week’s edition of the Christian Science Monitor. As Hotoyama is widely expected to be the next Prime Minister of Japan after the results of next Sunday’s election come in, the article offers some important insight into what opinions Hatoyama feels will curry favor with the Japanese public in the run-up to the election.

Hatoyama starts the essay with this:

In the post-cold war period, Japan has been continually buffeted by the winds of market fundamentalism in a US-led movement that is more usually called globalization. Freedom is supposed to be the highest of all values, but in the fundamentalist pursuit of capitalism people are treated not as an end but as a means. Consequently, human dignity has been lost.

Some might chucke at the notion that Japan, a nation often accused of pursuing protectionist policies - policies that often emerged from the bureaucracy Hatoyama himself wants to have less influence over the policy-making process - would be seen as embracing market fundamentalism.

A few paragraphs later, the direct appeal to voters come in the form of a lowest common denominator:

The recent worldwide economic crisis resulted from a way of thinking based on the principle that American-style free-market economics represents a universal and ideal economic order – and that all countries should modify the traditions and regulations governing their own economy in order to reform the structure of their economic society in line with global standards (or rather American standards).

Yes, this is coming from the same man whose party suggested inking a free trade agreement with the US in the first draft of its campaign manifesto. Unsurprisingly, the rest of the essay fails to include the phrase, “biting the hand that feeds.”

However, if you confuse Hatoyama’s essay with a serious policy statement for even a second, bear in mind what Shisaku had to say about this essay the other day:

It seems that the Christian Science Monitor did not read the memorandum explaining the rule that one never, ever, ever, ever, ever translates an article a Japanese politician has published in a domestic monthly magazine — because to do so would reveal the glib, facile, repetitive, overgeneralized, vote-begging pablum even the most aristocratic members of the political classes will peddle as close approximations of their way of thinking upon a matter of any importance.

Emphasis mine.

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Comments

48 Responses to “DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama: Japan must shake off US-style globalization”

Matt at AnarchyJapan on August 24th, 2009 6:05 am

Among Japanese politicians these days, it seems downright trendy to blame the current problems on market fundamentalism.

As someone who likes free markets, I keep thinking, “if only …”
Ken Worsley on August 24th, 2009 7:47 am

Matt, I agree. Aso makes almost the same speech on a regular basis.
Taro on August 24th, 2009 10:42 pm

Minshuto will be a big mistake and are the wrong direction! Kofuku Jitsugen is the right direction! HRP
Happieness Realization Party
Ken Worsley on August 24th, 2009 11:46 pm

Well, Taro, we’ll find out on Sunday. But I bet you they don’t win a single seat.
Taro on August 25th, 2009 7:22 pm

Why you say that I wonder? Minshuto with the scandal tainted Ozawa-san is enough you would think for people to realize Minshuto is just a bad apple and don’t even go there, they are just wrong for so long.
HPR at least is most favorable of all of them and is the best option! think about it…
Ken Worsley on August 25th, 2009 11:44 pm

Taro, as I said, let’s see how they do Sunday. I’m still betting a big fat zero.
Taro on August 26th, 2009 10:40 pm

Why the pessimism Ken?
Ken Worsley on August 27th, 2009 1:02 am

It’s not pessimism. Saying the HRP will win 0 seats is the most optimistic outcome I can imagine for them. A better question would be why the optimism over a party that was so severely and embarrassingly trounced in the Tokyo Assembly election?
Taro on August 27th, 2009 12:32 pm

Its because HRP is the party who actually has real solutions and actually looks out for the people, they are the real change, neither Minshuto or Jiminto can’t offer anything better than what comes out of their mouth. They are simply self-centered old-school bureaucrats who have no substance or competence whatsover.

You think for one minute that Aso-san has improved your overall situation? Has anything changed? What has Aso done? Not a stinkin thing! He’s a complete joke! In fact he should of been fired a long time ago! He’s just wrong for too long!

Nope and trust me with Hatoyama-san it will be more of the same or even worse off!
You gotta believe it! Hatoyama-san I just can’t trust! Look at the post of Hatoyama and HRP poster? Which one looks scary? Hatoyama-san—he has a cold look on his face. Hatoyama comes from the same corrupt breed like Ozawa-san!
Corruption is not needed!
Okawa-san doesn’t seem cold and is not corrupt like those other guys

HRP actually has an actual comprehensive long term vision, a vision that makes sense!
Do the Minshuto or Jiminto have a long term vision? They don’t have one! They do but It’s more of the same! Nothing but the same ole same ole

HRP actually cares about the people and are competent
HRP will bring the change we need, look America got its Obama, they obviously wanted change! Likewise for Japan.
HRP will help solve the birth rate problem for sure

Ken you certainly have your doubts still…
Ken Worsley on August 27th, 2009 5:10 pm

Taro,

Ironically, your comment demonstrates what a joke the HRP is. You are right about Aso and Hatoyama, about the LDP and DPJ. I’ve been saying this your years. You’re not telling me anything I didn’t already know.

In fact, all the voters know this. So, if the HRP offered a viable alternative, they should get some attention. But they don’t, and they won’t.

Their ideas are ludicrous, they are based on a crazy cult, and the voters of Japan are smart enough to see through this fraud of a “political party”.

0 seats for HRP is the most optimistic prediction I can make.
Taro on August 27th, 2009 6:50 pm

Alright obviously am more than ready for change! then who do you think can bring about the real proper change and a better tomorrow? I want a better Japan and a better world!
Japan and the world has been in deep you know what for awhile, it’s time for a good change!

I doubt you agree with DPJ or the LDP? There’s no way these two parties will bring that change, they are a has been and they will only bring us down, which they have done so already and will continue that…corruption and dirty politics seem to
be their ways!
Then who?
This election is veryvery important I hope you realize!
We gotta make the right decision and hope things will just go in the right direction…
Taro on August 27th, 2009 7:01 pm

Then who can really bring the solutions we need!
For sure solving the birth rate problem! This is very important!

So we are stuck with more of the same and more idiot leaders? Is that what you are saying Ken? You sure are making this seem so hopeless and bleak.

Please don’t fall into the trap of Hatoyama! He’s a bunch of bull!
He’s good at making people look like a sucker!

HRP just seems to have a solution minded strategy, so it seems, something you just don’t hear much from the other parties…you are wrong about them being a cult..
they can’t be….you really believe that?
That’s an ignorant view brother
Taro on August 27th, 2009 7:28 pm

These ideas are ludicrous!! Heck no!

Increasing population and birth rate?
Improving GDP?
Making linear maglevs ?
Making the trip from Tokyo to New York from 14 to 2 hours?
Defense to country?
These ideas are ludicrous?
These are ideas that make plenty of sense and these are actually solutions…what Ken you are scared of change?
Ken Worsley on August 27th, 2009 11:53 pm

I doubt you agree with DPJ or the LDP? There’s no way these two parties will bring that change, they are a has been and they will only bring us down

I agree.

So we are stuck with more of the same and more idiot leaders? Is that what you are saying Ken? You sure are making this seem so hopeless and bleak.

It is hopeless and bleak, but I’m not the one who made it that way.

Your list of “ideas” is actually a list of policy goals. Every party has increasing GDP as a policy goal. “Ideas” would be the way they intend to do it.

Just because the LDP and DPJ are not ideal doesn’t mean the HRP is. It’s a joke of a party with a terrible track record of past election performance and will not win a single seat in the election. There’s really nothing more to say. Let’s see what happens Sunday.
Taro on August 28th, 2009 9:19 pm

Are you absolutely certain that HRP is an actual cult, or you are just making that assumption based on opinion…I have a hard time believing this…if you are comparing this to Aum Asahara, then why you think so and where do you originate your info? Do you have enough to know and you really think that this is yet another Aum wannabe group?

HRP is not a cult and they are not another Aum copycat….i just can’t accept that…you need to show more evidence of this fact sir!
Taro on August 28th, 2009 9:38 pm

Don’t say hopeless and bleak, man you are pessimistic for real! Japan may have screwed up, but it isn’t hopeless damnit! Always optimistic! Am half Japanese so dude am offended by that comment!

Look at America, before Obama it was that exact situation…..
Taro on August 28th, 2009 9:53 pm

To put it simply in other words:
Japan is not hopeless, as a half Japanese I am offended by that comment.
Japan may have screwed up and sure I agree it is a Japanese problem, but it is not hopeless.
America was in that position a year ago before Obama.
Ken would appreciate at least some optimism…
Ken Worsley on August 28th, 2009 10:02 pm

if you are comparing this to Aum Asahara

I never did. You brought it up.
Taro on August 28th, 2009 10:10 pm

wait a sec you are the one who said that HRP is “Their ideas are ludicrous, they are based on a crazy cult” now that certainly didn’t come from me, still haven’t answered where you have gotten your info on that?
Taro on August 28th, 2009 10:18 pm

It seems America is having their doubts about their so-called superman
Obama…
Ken Worsley on August 29th, 2009 12:59 am

Taro, How many seats do you think HRP will win on Sunday?
Taro on August 29th, 2009 10:00 pm

more than you believe, as said we’ll see tomorrow.
Ken Worsley on August 30th, 2009 12:48 am

Taro, How many seats do you think HRP will win on Sunday?

Grow a pair and put a number on it.
Ken Worsley on August 31st, 2009 3:48 pm

So Taro, how much money did the HRP lose in deposits as they campaigned their way to 0 seats?
Taro on August 31st, 2009 6:09 pm

must you drill it in! ok they lost this time! So now most of the world has gone to the Dems alright Mr. Know it all you happy now!
Garrett on September 1st, 2009 12:52 am

I don’t think he’s drilling it in, Taro. I think he’s simply putting a period on the end of a statement.

The only evidence really necessary for calling Happy Science and the HRP nutty is listening to what they say.

They never stood an ice cube’s chance in hell and not only didn’t come close to winning a seat, but finished a distant last in most districts where they ran candidates - an outcome that was not the least bit surprising to anyone outside of Happy Science.

I’ll make a bold future predicition. They’ll run candidates in future elections and each and every candidate they run will get trounced.

And such a result will show that there is still hope for ordinary voters.
Taro on September 1st, 2009 6:24 pm

Another one that thinks these ideas are silly? why? Explain will ya!
HRPs ideas: Seem clear right?

Increase GDP?
HRP are the only ones who care about foreigners!
Increase birth rate?
Make the trip from Tokyo to New York in 2 hours?
Linear Maglev shinkansens?
National defense?
Don’t you get it! Where in HRP is silly? They aint nothihg outlandish about them!
Such absolute abignorance!
Have you even read Ryuho Okawa’s many books? I don”t think you ever have! I suggest you do!

Dang you guys must really hate Japan!

So maybe HRP are off the wall paranoid with North Korea perhaps if that’s what you mean?

These ideas are not silly, what the heck is wrong with you people!! You don’t wanna change? You just want to be the same?
HRP has better ideas than anyone! Look at their Manifesto, compare that to Minshuto! An major difference!
You don’t care about the future obviously! You think Minshuto will make things any better? NO WAY!
No wonder this entire world is screwed up!
Ken Worsley on September 2nd, 2009 12:58 am

Increase GDP?

Every party says they will do this. HRP has no concrete plans whatsoever for making it actually happen.

HRP are the only ones who care about foreigners!

So? Despite the fact that its not true, that is a non-issue in the election.

Increase birth rate?

How?

Make the trip from Tokyo to New York in 2 hours?

Here comes the Craziness Realization Party’s science fiction. The trip to New York, which I make several times a year, is already fast enough. Focus on something else. Something that might actually matter to voters.

Dang you guys must really hate Japan!

No, you moron. I love this country, which is why I would never vote for a cult founded upon bullshit (Kim Jong Il’s guardian angel?). Given that HRP barely won any votes at all, do you pull aside random Japanese people on the street and tell they they hate Japan because they didn’t vote for HRP? If you don’t do that, then why would you make such accusations here? Seriously, grow up.

You think Minshuto will make things any better?

Better than a silly cult that has pissed away millions of yen running hundreds of clueless candidates while being thoroughly rejected by the voters in Tokyo and then nationwide? I’d say there’s a better chance. Not by much, but democracy is as such.

Let me know when a single wingnut from HRP gets elected anywhere.

Troll somewhere else.
Taro on September 2nd, 2009 6:43 pm

How do you know for certain HRP is seriously a cult? Has this been
true?

Mind the rudeness
I aint no troll!
Taro on September 2nd, 2009 6:49 pm

How do you increase birth rate? By having more babies duh! Husband and wife should make that effort, it’s their responsibility, and the government should offer some support.
Also improve sex education too

If birth rate is low, well guess what you know will end up having a country just full of senior citizens? That’s not what should happen.
There needs to be a balance.

And not wait til like 35 years old!
Garrett on September 4th, 2009 2:25 am

This is the problem with HRP, Taro. They offer platitudes, but no explanation. Then for every bit of mainstream meaningless pablum they offer, they come up with things that simply not possible: everyone gets a 6LDK apartment? The trip to NY takes two hours? Those are not goals, those are bits of nonsense that are an insult to voters.

Luckily, pretty much everyone in Japan really hates Japan as the HRP not only didn’t come close to winning any seats, they finished a distant last in nearly every race they entered.

I, for one, am happy to see it - let them blow a fortune on relatively harmless lost causes.

As for Okawa, considering that he suddenly decided in NY one day that he could talk to the guardian spirits of historical figures and based a religion on it, then decided he had to get into politics based on a conversation with Kim Jong Il’s guardian spirit, I think the reasons to consider him risible at best are obvious.

As for Happy Science itself, it seems to be nothing more than some hackneyed hogwash from every religion, from previous nuts, mixed together with Okawa’s spirit-talking. Who cares how many books he writes? I could copy 500 volumes of nonsense down as well.

If you want Okawa to force you into having kids while you wait for the Jetsons to become true, go ahead, but don’t hold your breath waiting for the whole country to join Okawa’s charismatic cult.
Japanophile from Beijing on September 4th, 2009 8:26 am

You have to be blind to pretend the U.S “free market” model hasn’t been discredited worldwide. Wall Street is now synonymous with GREED and FAILURE.

Hatoyama was merely stating the obvious. Japan will choose its own path sustainable of development.
Ken Worsley on September 4th, 2009 12:11 pm

Japanophile from Beijing,

Japan will choose its own path sustainable of development.

Any specifics?
Garrett on September 4th, 2009 2:17 pm

Japanophile,

You have to be blind to pretend the U.S “free market” model hasn’t been discredited worldwide. Wall Street is now synonymous with GREED and FAILURE.

Which is why so many countries are now turning away from it, right?

Whatever negative connotations Wall Street may have, markets are still busy, people are still buying and selling. People are still investing. There aren’t any big pushes going on to get away from the capitalist model. More regulation? Perhaps, but Japan’s not on the verge of going socialist or anything.

If this is what discrediting of the free market model looks like, then discrediting really doesn’t have much effect, does it?
Taro on September 4th, 2009 7:41 pm

Besides the HRP, guess you’ve never heard the possibility of supersonic jets have you, flying at Mach speed. It’s already possible.
If we thought things were impossible we would have never gotten a man on the moon with this negative thinking you all!
Taro on September 4th, 2009 8:04 pm

And your right that HRP would be assumed to cause fear mongering….sure with NK they are off the wall on that
Ken Worsley on September 4th, 2009 8:11 pm

guess you’ve never heard the possibility of supersonic jets have you, flying at Mach speed. It’s already possible.

Especially in an F-22.
Gene on September 4th, 2009 8:24 pm

Garret:
It is necessary to have a healthy birth rate to sustain and maintain a
a decent population level and to sustain the economy.
A low birth rate is not good FYI Population will diminish simply.
Ken Worsley on September 4th, 2009 8:31 pm

Garrett,

Just so you know, “Gene” and “Taro” have the same IP address. It probably doesn’t matter which one you reply to.
Taro on September 4th, 2009 8:33 pm

my mistake sorry
Taro on September 4th, 2009 8:45 pm

Do you guys at least have any hope for Japan?
And please don’t say Japan is hopeless
Garrett on September 15th, 2009 2:47 am

Gene/Taro,

I probably shouldn’t restart this thread, but I will. I agree that it is necessary to raise the birthrate. The point, as I thought I’d made clear, is that the HRP has neither a plan to do this nor the ability to do so. Ryuho Okawa wants to be a leader, his followers - each and every one a complete joke as a candidate - went along with him. The platform points the HRP listed were an afterthought.

You may well respond. I won’t. The election is over and the HRP will eventually fade away. Thanks to them for giving such a large donation to the collective election commissions.

I think I can speak for Ken, and most of the rest of the residents of Japan, when I say that we have hope for Japan. I’d say people switching to a different ruling camp was at least partially an expression of hope that things could be better.

And, yes, the sound rejection of the HRP is just one of many signs that, for all it’s problems, at least Japan has a populace with its heads on straight.
Mark on October 4th, 2009 7:01 pm

“Taro” I think I should point out that on a lot of blogs
is you disagree with the proprieter / owner of the blog you
are called a “troll”.
Ken Worsley on October 4th, 2009 8:15 pm

Mark, or if you post with multiple identities.
Harrison on January 6th, 2010 2:45 am

I agree with the first poster. There is (whether you like it or not) a diminishing distinction between “Western culture” and “global culture.” The homogenization that globalization entails is primarily driven by the West.
Japan Australia on January 11th, 2010 4:12 pm

The DPJ and Hatoyama are trying to distinguish themselves from the former ruling party and this is all part of that process. Since taking power the DPJ has changed a lot of the former policies and reforms.

Japan Australia
k on January 31st, 2010 10:27 am

couldn’t agree more with you Hato-America’s fault!
J on March 15th, 2010 2:00 pm

The Ministry of finance controls the country so it doesn’t matter much what the politicians do now does it?

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DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama: Japan must shake off US-style globalization

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