The Japan Considered Podcast

October 26, 2007. Volume 03, Number 38

Click here for a transcript of this program.

Thanks for dropping in again this week. We have a full schedule. Though I'll do my best to keep the program to a reasonable length. This week we check in on the Ministry of Defense flaps. Including the "Moriya Golf" issue, and how that issue has been combined with debate over renewal of legislation authorizing Japan to continue refueling U.S. ships, and ships of other nations, engaged in the war on terror.

Then we have an interview with Dr. James Auer, Director of the Center for U.S.-Japan Studies and Cooperation at Vanderbilt University's Institute for Public Policy Studies. Jim helps us unravel the complex parliamentary goings-on concerning Japan's diplo-military relationship with the United States. A real mine field.

October 19, 2007. Volume 03, Number 37Click here for a transcript of this program.Thanks for joining me again today. We have a good program. Featuring an extended interview with Gregg Rubinstein of Washington, D.C. Gregg gives us his latest thinking on the nature of U.S.-Japan relations. All interesting stuff. Before that we briefly consider the significance of a couple of items in the news this week. First, Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura's comments to the Kantei press corps about negotiations with China over the East China Sea gas exploitation dispute. He clearly said -- again -- that Japan believes this issue requires a "political" resolution. And that Japan expects China to present a more reasonable proposal. Clearly, "dialogue" can mean all sorts of things. The second issue concerns NHK's reporting today on allegations that recently retired Ministry of Defense Vice Minister, Takemasa Moriya, has been playing golf regularly with representatives of an important defense contractor. For years. This isn't a new issue. Japan's tabloid political press and newsletters have been covering it for months. But NHK's decision to cover it is significant, I think. We'll just have to see how the Fukuda Cabinet responds. Finally, we have the excellent interview with Gregg Rubinstein I mentioned a moment ago. Full of information and insights. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. And we close with a clip of bluegrass from the Seldom Scene's 1985 album, "Blue Ridge." If you buy only one album of bluegrass for your collection this may well be the one to get. Here's where it's available on-line.

October 12, 2007. Volume 03, Number 36Click here for a transcript of this program.Thanks for dropping by again. And for the e-mailed comments and suggestions for the program that you've taken the time to send. They're very helpful, and keep 'em coming! To [email protected]. In response to your suggestions, I've added a trial website search window to the Japan Considered Project website home page. It's at the bottom of the page. Give it a try. It should allow you to search the website's contents for files that contain words and phrases you input. Let me know how it works. This week we take a look at the latest round of bilateral talks between Japan and China on the East China Sea gas exploitataion dispute. No progress in the talks. But I think they tell us something about Japan's new prime minister and cabinet. Then we continue our consideration of the first 18 days of Yasuo Fukuda's premiership. With special attention to the implications of the style of his selection for his performance as prime minister.

October 5, 2007. Volume 03; Number 35Click here for a transcript of this program.Thanks for dropping by. No program last week. But, hopefully, we're back on track now. This time we return to Japan's international relations, with consideration of Tokyo's reaction to recent events on the Korean peninsula. The second round of the Six Party Talks, and the North-South Korean Summit meeting. Japan has a big stake in developments there. Then we consider selection of Yasuo Fukuda as LDP president, and prime minister of Japan. How he was selected. What was expected; what was unexpected. As always, continue to send your comments and suggestions to me at [email protected]. And click on over to the Japan Considered Project website for past podcast transcripts and audio files. And, links to useful English language web-based resources on Japan's domestic politics and conduct of international relations.

September 21, 2007. Volume 03; Number 34Click here for a transcript of this program.Thanks for dropping by again. This week coming to you from the Mobile Studio camped on the shore of Lake Thurmond. Our program is a bit longer. But we've got a lot to consider! We take a careful look at the "campaign" for the LDP presidency waged all week by Yasuo Fukuda and Taro Aso. What's happening, and the significance of this important event for Japan's domestic politics overall. Then we consider the "scandal scandal" that I've been discussing for the past few week. And the importance of genuine political reform for the credibility of Japan's electoral politics.

September 14, 2007. Volume 03; Number 33Click here for a transcript of this program.Thanks for dropping by again this week. Last week I said we'd continue to consider the significance of the cabinet reshuffle on Japan's politics unless we had any surprising developments. Well, we had one. On Wednesday at 2PM, Tokyo time, Prime Minister Abe held a press conference and announced his decision to resign. Tokyo's political world has been wild since. So, this week, we consider the causes of that surprise announcement, its significance for Japan's domestic politics and conduct of international relations. As of today, former Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yasuo Fukuda, seems Abe's likely successor. A successor selected by the LDP's faction leaders, in the traditional Factionist pattern. What will this mean for Japan's domestic politics, economic policy, and conduct of international relations? All considered this week. With more to come next week.

September 7, 2007. Volume 03. Number 32Click here for a full transcript of the program. Thanks for dropping by. As we continue our consideration of post-Upper House election domestic politics in Japan. This week our focus is on an effort to address the question: "Why is Shinzo Abe still Japan's prime minister?" It's a reasonable question, I think, given the difficulty he has had with public approval of his cabinet. And the disastrous results of the July 29th Upper House election. I don't have a definitive answer. But do have several alternative explanations. As always, continue to send your comments and suggestions to me at [email protected]. And click on over to the Japan Considered Project website at www.JapanConsidered.com. It's slowly beginning to take shape.

August 31, 2007. Volume 03, Number 31

Click here for a transcript of this program.

Welcome again to the Japan Considered Podcast. This week our focus is on the reshuffle of the Abe Cabinet. and the significance of that reshuffle for Japan's domestic politics and conduct of international relations.

I've been able to persuade three specialists in the field to join us today as commentators. First Mr. Gregg Rubinstein gives his thoughts on the significance of all this for the Ministry of Defense, and its conduct of its mission.

Then Dr. Edward Lincoln provides his thoughts on the economic appointments -- both domestic and international.

And Dr. Dennis Yasutomo discusses the implications of the reshuffle for Japan's conduct of foreign relations, in broader perspective.

I'd planned to add my own commentary on the effect of the reshuffle on Japan's domestic politics. But the contributions of our guest commentators went a bit longer than expected. All good material, so I didn't feel comfortable cutting it. You'll hear from me next week.

Keep in mind, this just happened. So these are only preliminary thoughts on the subject. We may well see dramatic changes in the near future.

Click here for a transcript of this program. We begin this week with some discussion of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Indonesia, India, and Malaysia. He left on Sunday and is expected back in Tokyo tomorrow, Saturday.

Then we turn to domestic politics, with consideration of developments in the appointment of the second Abe Cabinet. Some of those developments quite surprising.

And finally we look at Prime Minister Abe's political style, in search of explanations of the problems he has faced since his selection last September. I suggest that he may simply be conflict-adverse. Or that he's relying on individuals for advice who are out of touch with the current political situation in Japan.

Included in all this is consideration of the continued unusual situation in Japan's Ministry of Defense. With the outgoing administrative vice minister openly criticizing his minister. And Japan's communications media not saying much at all about it. Which calls into question their concern over political control of Japan's military!

August 17, 2007. Volume 03, Number 29Click here for a Transcript of This Week's Program

Thanks for tuning in again. This week I'd hoped to continue the post mortem of the October 29th Upper House election. But as so often happens, pressing events intervened. So that will have to wait until next week.

This week we consider the longer-term significance of the eruption of conflict between Defense Minister Yuriko Koike and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihisa Shiozaki. Not pretty! And another blot on the Abe Administration's management of Japan's national government.

We must go into some detail, since Japanese and English language news reports of these events from Japan have been somewhat misleading. For the most part.

In addition, click on over and have a look at the Japan Considered Project interview with Gregg Rubinstein. It's another interesting addition to the collection on the Japan Considered website. Gregg has had an interesting career that spans government service and the life of a busy consultant in Washington. You can go directly to the interview by clicking here.

Also note some more progress on migrating the website to its current home from the University servers. I hope it's easier to navigate. Go have a look at www.JapanConsidered.com.