Monday, February 13, 2012

How a Japanese prime minister has become MHP.

When I was a kid, it used to be that the prime minister was considered the nation’s top job. A boy often had the aspiration to become one some day, pouring out in school essays how he would then change the nation. Quite apart from the obvious flaw of Japanese society that girls usually did not (and still do not) aspire to become politicians, the classic picture does not hold anymore. The times they are a-changin’.

The prime ministers come in and go through the now famous revolving door of Japanese politics. When a prime minister is elected and comes into the spotlight, he (sadly, in Japan, we don’t have yet to write “or she” here as a historical fact; same applies to U.S. presidency) enjoys the “honeymoon” with the Japanese populace for a very short time. That period is then followed by a series of humiliations, both public and private, fueled by the overjealous attention of the Japanese media whose main job these days are forcing politicians to step down. One government figure resigned, one mission accomplished.

Thus, a Japanese prime minister (“JPM”) has become the synonym for the “MHP” (Most Humiliated Person) of the nation. No wonder a boy doesn’t aspire to become a P.M. any more. Nobody wants to be humiliated, or deserves to be.

This thought is just in. A female prime minister might really change the situation for the better, as it is not such a decent job to humiliate a lady. Even the media bastards know that.



Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. He has had his share of humiliation. I am personally sorry for him.

3 comments:

D. said...

Ken, I'm currently reading Kishore Mahbubani's 'Can Asians Think' (4th Ed) and he has some interesting ideas about the not so welcome role of a free press in politically troubled or developing nations. Some interesting ideas on Japan too. It is no 'Pride & Prejudice' but I think you would find some of his essays interesting!

I look forward to reading some more commentary from you on Japanese politics!

Genta Nishi said...

I think that we don't see any changes even though a female minister is born. What we have to focus on is "system". Not sticking to inside of the current system but doubting it and re-considering which type of systems are the most approproate for Japan is important, I feel.

Genta

Tsumabenicho said...

Japanese prime ministers look like easy prey of 判官贔屓 ( sympathy for the weak ). It is true that such a vent is almost unproductive. The weak is not always right as well as the power.

A box of chocolates for a snowy sky !