The Japan Considered Podcast

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Greetings from Norris Dam State Park in Eastern Tennessee. A beautiful site to create a Podcast. Listen to this week's program, or read the transcript, for more details on this area.

This week a lot was going on in Tokyo. We begin with consideration of the longer-term significance of the Diet's passage of the Constitution Revision Referendum Law. Then we look at the ticklish issue of collective security, or collective self defense. And finally we continue our survey of the environment within which Japan's domestic political competition occurs.

As usual, please continue to send your comments and suggestions to me at [email protected]. I read them all, and consider each one when creating new programs. The mail increases each week. As the number of listeners and subscribers increases. And that's a good thing, as they say.

May 11, 2007. Volume 03, Number 17

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Welcome back to you long-time listeners, and a hearty South Carolina welcome to those of you who've found the program for the first time. I'm Robert Angel, creator and maintainer of the Japan Considered Project. And creator and host of this podcast.Each week at this time we consider a few recent events that seem to have the greatest longer-term significance for Japan's domestic politics and conduct of international relations. Click on over to the Japan Considered website where you'll find all sorts of useful information. Including interviews with well-known contributors to American scholarship on political Japan. And an archive of sound files and transcripts of these podcasts. Which goes clear back to November of 2005.This week we begin with an interview with Dr. Ed Lincoln, Director of the Japan-U.S. Center at New York University's Stern School of Business. Ed helps us sort through the significance of the recent spate of FTA agreements Japan and other countries have been negotiating of late.Then we turn to Japan's domestic politics. I set the stage for more in-depth consideration of the changes in Japan's domestic political environment during the past fifteen or twenty years. We'll continue on this theme next week as well, and then consider the current state of the major competitors in Japan's Diet: the LDP and DPJ.Don't miss the incredible bluegrass clip at the end. It'll warm your heart all week!

May 4, 2007; Volume 03, Number 16

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Thanks for tuning in again this week. We have an interesting program. First, an important correction, thanks to a sharp-eared listener. Then a Skype-line interview with Gregg Rubinstein during which he explains the substance and significance of the recently concluded U.S.-Japan "2+2" consultations. Then, at last we look at the Abe Cabinet's recent energy diplomacy initiative, including the Prime Minister's recently concluded trip to five countries in the Middle East, and METI Minister Amari's visit to Kazakhstan. Both visits including huge delegations of senior Japanese business leaders.

April 27, 2007. Volume 03, Number 15

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Welcome back, after a two-week absence. Good to be behind the microphone again for another edition of the Japan Considered Podcast. This one from our South Carolina home. No traveling this week!

A lot's happened since our last program. So let's get right to it. We'll begin this week with review of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's first trip to Washington as prime minister. Lots to consider there, including the diverse interpretations of the bilateral relationship now coming from Washington.

Then, as promised on the last program, we'll consider the second round of unified prefectural and local elections that Japan held on Sunday, the 22nd. What they tell us about the current state of domestic politics in Japan. Talk about diverse interpretations!

I'd hoped to include a section on developments concerning collective security, and Japan's participation, this week. But ran out of time. Next week! Along with developments this week and next in the field of energy diplomacy. Both very important topics.

April 13, 2007. Volume 03, Number 14

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Welcome to another edition of the Japan Considered Podcast. I'm here again at Sesquicentennial State Park, "narrow-casting" from our Little Tin House, Aliner. Which has become something of a mobile studio. Hopefully, the sound this week will be better. Since we have several important topics to cover.

First, we'll consider passage of a Constitutional Referendum Bill through the Lower House, and its significance. Then we'll shift to post-election assessment of the prefectural and local unified elections held Sunday. What they tell us about Japan's political future. If anything. And finally, we'll consider the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Japan. What was accomplished. And what remains.

As always, send me your comments and suggestions for the program at [email protected]. I read them all, and try to respond to each one. Visit the Japan Considered Project website at www.JapanConsidered.com. Not much progress this week. But I was able to record an excellent interview with Gregg Rubinstein earlier in the week that will go up as soon as time permits.

April 6, 2006 Volume 03, Number 13

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Thanks for dropping by again this week. Especially after the terrible sound quality of last week's program. Sorry about that. I'll try to do better next time I produce a program out in the wild, in Our Little Tin House.

This week I provide some comments in response to e-mail feedback on last week's program concerning administrative reform. And also include more recent developments in that important area. The English language press has yet to discover the issue, or to recognize its importance. But there's plenty in Japanese to keep us busy.

I'd hoped to provide more background information about Japan's prefectural and local elections. But, there's little information of interest in Japan's political press. Even in Japanese. So we'll have to wait until next week when we have the election results, and some preliminary analysis of their significance.

In conclusion we look again at preparations for Chinese Premier Wen's visit to Tokyo next week, and what those preparations tell us about the current state of relations between the two countries. And close with an inspiring clip from Patsy Cline that's sure to stay with you through most of next week.

Continue to send your comments and suggestions to me at [email protected]. They're very helpful, and I enjoy hearing what you think.

March 30, 2007. Volume 03, Number 12

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It's Friday again, and welcome back. This time from a remote site. Well, not really very remote. Just the Sesquicentennial State Park in the Midlands of South Carolina. But the program is being produced and recorded here among the beautifully blooming dogwood. In our Aliner Little Tin House. So, you'll probably hear a difference in the audio sound. Especially at the beginning. Hopefully not too bad.

This week, as promised last Friday, we focus on only one topic. The politics of the Abe Kantei's "Administrative Reform" proposal. This is potentially a very important issue. And, we've seen very little coverage of it, even in the Japanese political media. At least, compared to its significance.

So, we'll do that here. Beginning with the history and overall significance of the issue. Then how the Abe Kantei has presented their proposals, and the specific content of those proposals. And finally something on the politics of the whole issue.

Thanks for all of the e-mail messages. They are helpful. You don't have to agree with the analysis here to write in. Just address your e-mail to [email protected]. I look forward to reading them. And will respond to all I can. Also, click on over to the new Japan Considered website. Slowly, slowly, I'm getting materials migrated over.

March 23, 2007. Volume 03, Number 11

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Welcome back again this week. To all of you who regularly listen to and/or read the show. Another busy week in political and international Japan.

We begin with good news about modification of the "Sushi Police" scheme by the Ministry of Agriculture. But then look at the collapse of the Six-Party Talks held this week in Beijing, as a counter-balance.

The balance of the program is all about the upcoming prefectural and local elections. And what they actually mean for Japan's domestic politics. A number of you have written in asking for clarification. So, here it is.

I'd hoped to consider the administrative reforms the Abe Cabinet announced earlier this week. They are important. Far more important than their footprint in Japan's political press would suggest. But it will have to wait until next week.

At the end of the program we have another nice clip from Nashville's "Infamous Stringdusters." From "A Poor Boy's Dream." You can order the album from Sugar Hill by clicking on this link.

Until next week, then, continue to send your comments and suggestions to me at [email protected]. Especially anything you might have on the conduct of the prefectural and local elections. That news is darn hard to come by!

March 16, 2007. Volume 03, Number 10

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Thanks for dropping in again. It's good to be back at the microphone. After nearly a two-week absence. Not "pod-fading," now. Just a planned short spring vacation. Thanks for all of your e-mails. I'll have gotten through them by the end of the weekend, hopefully. And they're all appreciated. We've had quite an increase in regular subscribers to the program since the last program. A hearty South Carolina welcome to you all. I hope the programs you receive will meet your expectations. Drop me an e-mail at [email protected] to let me know what you think. I'll do my best to write back.

We'll begin this week with a quick review of developments in the North Korean situation. Because of its overall importance. Then a comment on the Abe Cabinet's discussion of defense relations with Australia, Indonesia, and France, and its significance. Next, we'll consider recent developments in the relationship with Mainland China, including the run-up to Premier Wen's visit to Japan early next month. And we'll conclude with further consideration of the Abe Cabinet's management of public communications, both domestic and international. And I've prepared an excellent bluegrass clip for you at the end. From the "Infamous Stringdusters." You can pick up a copy of their album, "Fork in the Road," from Sugar Hill Records by clicking here.

You also can reach the Japan Press Weekly by clicking here.

Thanks for dropping by again this week. Sorry the program is late going up. And, there won't be a program on Friday, March 9. Not podfading, just traveling for a few days. But I'll be back and at it the following Friday, March 16th. So stay tuned.

This week we take a look at the passage of Japan's FY 2007 budget through the Lower House Budget Committee and the Lower House plenary session. With special emphasis on what this process can tell us about Ichiro Ozawa's DPJ.

Then we consider Japan's management of relations with China, and how that has changed during the past decade or so. Using the Yasukuni Shrine Visit fracas of last year as an example.

And, of course, we close with a refreshing clip of bluegrass, just to brighten your week. This the Original Seldom Scene's rendition of James Taylor's "Sweet Baby James." Incredible music. You can find Act I by clicking on this link.