In 2007, BCC News reported on how the Japanese political system of campaigning is out-of-date and I'd like to agree. There are a vast number of strict prohibitions when the election campaign begins that may seem unorthodox in other modern, developed nations.Let me break it down. First, I've put this chart together to illustrate the main points of election campaigning and political activities.
During the 12-day-campaign, public opinion pools on individual candidates are strictly prohibited by law. Endorsing of candidates by media is also prohibited. Media, thus plays a key roll during election time in Japan. The government pays for all of this in order to "level the playing field" between political parties, removing competition of wealth. The media thus focuses on the political issues rather than the horse race. Yet, the ideologies of the political parties, more or less are the
same.
I am surprised to see how the government is actively involved in limiting political campaigns in Japan. Furthermore, in order to enforce these limits, Japan is stuck in what Prof Phil Deans, who works at Temple University in Tokyo describes as "almost a throwback to the 1950s". Cars with speakers is a perfect example of how Japan is holding on to these old-fashioned ways to spread politics throughout the country. I have seen many of these political cars around Osaka and this one in Hiroshima (see photo below). I couldn't make out any of the mumbled Japanese, and the people on the street, passing by looked like there weren't interested because they didn't seem to care.
Japanese politics and campaign elections are seemingly government affairs only. People of the country appear to be ill-educated about Japanese politics and thus uninterested in the matter. If this changed, maybe more people would vote.
The BCC news article Japan's old-fashioned campaigning provided information and inspiration for this blog's content.
1 comment:
Gee, I wonder why the government doesn't do much to revise political campaigning. Could it be that the ruling LDP has been in power almost continually since the 1950s and thus benefits from the current system?
Before TV time was given, the government gave radio time. There is a story about a deaf candidate. Sign language interpreters were banned, so when it came time for the candidate to speak, there was only dead air (or maybe the sound of moving hands? how zen...).
Maybe you are right, if Japanese people actually were able to choose the prime minster and other officials, there might be more interest (and knowledge) in and of the political process.
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