Japan’s Obama: Hatoyama’s Keynesian Worship Will Be Another Lost Decade For Land Of The Rising Sun?

LuckyBogey's Blog ^ | September 4, 2009 | LuckyBogey

[luckybogey]

“Everyone was convinced that there had to be a change. The DPJ will form the Government but we will not be arrogant and we will lead according to the will of the people.”

The DPJ promises free secondary education, free treatment and delivery for expectant mothers, and an annual allowance of 312,000 yen (£2,000) to all children until they leave junior school. There will be a crackdown on the practice known as amakudari — “descent from the heavens” — whereby retiring civil servants secure jobs in the industries that they formerly supervised.

“Japan now needs to make a clear shift from diplomacy that follows the US lead, to diplomacy based on multilateral co-operation,” he said earlier this year. “We must view the AsiaPacific region, where we have increasingly close ties with other countries, as the place where Japan will live as a nation.”

A slightly smug response is evident in Beijing, too. There is quiet satisfaction there at the decimation, after half a century in power, of the Liberal Democratic party of the nationalist former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, a hate figure for many Chinese. Pledges by Hatoyama, to eschew visits to the Yasukuni war shrine in Tokyo and pursue closer Asian co-operation are seen as tacit acknowledgement of Tokyo’s past mistakes.

He also wants a US pledge not to bring nuclear-armed vessels or aircraft into Japanese ports and airports. American reactions have been notably less complacent, reflecting real unease about where the DPJ’s untested, vaguely anti-capitalist, anti-globalisation stance and its vow to forge a “more equal” relationship with the US may lead.

The Obama administration said it was ready to work together “to further cement this indispensable alliance”. But it quickly stressed Washington had “no intention” of re-opening negotiations on American bases and troop re-deployments in Japan...

[luckybogey]

Posted in Bloggers Section. Blog post includes: Japan Is Losing Its Ultimate Resource — Japanese government crushed in election rout — A new sun rises for Japan Inc — Japan’s economy in valley of tears with record public debt heading for 300% of GDP — Is Japan’s sun rising or setting? — I have been abducted by aliens, says Japan’s first lady

[Eric in the Ozarks]

She said she was taken to Venus where everything was very green...

[B-Chan]

ジッムトンプソンすきじゃないです！

[Leto]

Given the demographic disaster facing Japan this seems like a cound policy at least:

“The DPJ promises free secondary education, free treatment and delivery for expectant mothers, and an annual allowance of 312,000 yen (£2,000) to all children until they leave junior school.”