So suddenly I can’t get enough of Japanese politics. Hey, must be the money!
But in the course of my studies I have come across some great resources for those interested in following every goddamn word these politicians say:
Prime Minister’s movements. All newspapers and major sites offer this, but I prefer Nikkei’s because they have little news stories covering the PM’s major statements of the day. Like today was Koizumi’s big day to celebrate as his pet project, postal privatization, finally became law, so everyone’s favorite henjin decided to refer to himself in the 3rd person:
“This is a miracle in politics,” Koizumi said before a TV camera Friday afternoon at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence. “This miracle has been realized thanks to people who have supported Koizumi.”
In Japanese that’s not grammatically incorrect or anything, but it does take some balls for a man in his 60s to pull a Jimmy like that.
One other thing about this quote: If I’m wrong about this someone please correct me, but the Nikkei reported that Koizumi said this at the Prime Minister’s Office, not his official residence. There’s a difference people! I mean, look at Koizumi’s latest mail magazine (another great J-politics link btw):
Autumn at the Prime Minister’s Office
Junichiro Koizumi here.
Yesterday morning, a clear and crisp autumn day, I was taking my
usual walk from my official residence to my office when I spotted
mushrooms amongst the shrubbery in front of my residence. Looking
closer, I found an assortment of mushrooms scattered about, whose
varieties ranged from large-capped mushrooms to small mushrooms
that were nearly hidden by the shadows of the weeds. I am eager to
look them up to learn whether they are edible.Around me were also many small acorns that had fallen to the ground.
Reflecting on my childhood days, when I would often pick up acorns
and play with them, I felt a hint of the coming of autumn here in
the center of Tokyo.
How could he have stopped to appreciate nature like that if he didn’t have two separate buildings for his office and official residence? Besides, I clearly remember seeing his residence outside the Diet in Nagata-cho… Wiki has it that the “kantei” is the official residence of the prime minister, but the “Kantei” web site makes no specific reference to this.
OK, ALC‘s excellent Eijiro dictionary has it that “kantei” means an official residence, but that “shusho kantei” mean’s the prime minister’s office. Furthermore, “shusho kotei” means the prime minister’s residence. Whatever, I’m pretty sure I’m right.
Asahi Shimbun doesn’t give the big K much credit for postal privatization, btw. In an Oct. 14 editorial we are reminded that Koizumi owes his strategy’s success to (A) the privatizations of NTT and Japan National Railways carried out by the Nakasone administration (which made postal reform essentially next on the list); and (B) The change to single-member electoral districts envisioned by Ichiro Ozawa and overseen by Ryutaro Hashimoto’s cabinet. Then in Oct. 15’s editorial, the Asahi tells us that postal reform would have happened eventually anyway.
Yet the Asahi says they have been calling for postal privatization for years?! Come on, this is a time to celebrate, not nitpick!
Anyway, here’s another great link: Kyodo Full Reports. This is a service that makes available the full text or summaries of important press conferences/documents, such as the LDP’s draft preamble to the new Japanese Constitution or Jenkins’ press conference announcing his new book. Glad I found this!
Also essential reading is ZAKZAK, though anyone who reads this site regularly should know about this one already. This is daily rag Yukan Fuji’s online news site, and I have nothing but praise for it. It’s got business news, sex scandals, and (my personal favorite) endless political speculation. If you’re like me and believe that Heizo Takenaka will be Japan’s next prime minister, then you will find yourself right at home at ZAKZAK.
Last but not least, a shout out to the Japan Media Review, a federally funded blog project that keeps tabs on the Japanese media. Great, informative newswriting.
All this talk of Japan makes me want to move back there ASAP to get in on the political action. Hey, all these politicos need an eikaiwa teacher to prep them for talking points on their trips abroad, right? Or maybe someone to check over their translations of important government reports??