“The most serious problem for Japan is the rising of populism. If we do not overcome this, we will face another ‘lost decade.’ We may lose two decades,” said Yasuhisa Shiozaki, former chief cabinet secretary of Japan and an incumbent lawmaker of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Speaking about the political power shift in Japan amidst the economic crisis, Shiozaki said the Liberal Democratic Party has failed to understand the people’s will, while the Democratic Party has fall into the trap of populism.

Q: The Japanese political arena faces complicated problems. What are the possibilities that the House of Representatives will be dissolved and that a general election will take place before the end of this year?

A: There are many imminent issues to be addressed such as the supplementary budget to prepare for economic crisis and the review of the 2009 budget bill. It is more natural that the election will take place in late January of next year, rather than right now.
(Only two days after the interview, Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo stepped down, drastically changing the political landscape of Japan. Depending on the popularity and the support rate for the Liberal Democratic Party, it is possible that Japan will hold an election before the end of this year, Japanese media have analyzed.)

Q: Taking into account the low approval rating for the Liberal Democratic Party, it appears possible that the Democratic Party might be in control of the next administration.

A: If the election takes place right now with this rating, that can be true. The Democratic Party, however, is only good at criticizing the current administration’s shortcomings. Its alternatives are all absurd. They all sound nice, but they all require incredible amount of money. The Democrats’ Baramaki (throwing roses before the crowds) populism of budget-busting policies will only drive the country into a disaster. The problem is that the Liberal Democratic Party is leaning toward such populism in order to win the election. It may be painful now, but the key is enhancing competitiveness of Japan through reform and restructuring. I am concerned that we may face “lost two decades,” worse than the “lost decade” in the 1990s, when Japan had suffered a long period of depression after the bubbles popped in its economy.

Q: Why is the Liberal Democratic Party’s popularity dropping?

A: In short words, the Japanese people are dissatisfied with their reality and insecure about their future. They do not want the Liberal Democratic Party to handle their future, because the party is responsible for their reality. The party and the government have failed to calm the pains of the people. When the people are uneasy about a policy, even if it is right, they should have listened to the opinions and tried to understand. However, they were always late to do so.

Q: Tensions between Korea and Japan escalated after Japan made territorial claims over Dokdo.

A: Personally, I think the leaders of the two countries must use their wisdom and avoid bringing up sensitive issues such as the territorial dispute. It is same for the historical issues. History only exists as history, but future is what we can build together. The two nations’ people do not want to give up their future and go back to the past. In order to counter the rapidly changing environment of the East Asia, it is necessary for both countries to pay careful attentions to the mater. 

                                                                            By Lee Seung-Young, Staff Writer of JoongAng Ilbo