[Current Topic] Policies need for Koizumi cabinet

The new Japanese cabinet led by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who was elected 20th president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), has been launched. The Koizumi government has set sail amid rising wishes of the party members for a change in the ruling party and people`s aspirations for a change in Japan.

Few Japanese anticipated that Koizumi, who shouted anti-factionalism slogans during the LDP`s presidential election, won the race, defeating Ryutaro Hashimoto, leader of the party`s largest faction. So much so that the Japanese media tend to call his election victory a ``Koizumi revolution`` or political about-face.

Of course, his election victory also can be attributed to various complicated reasons, namely, the incompetence of his predecessor, Yoshiro Mori, the general public`s total distrust in politics, the long-run economic slowdown, and his personal popularity, as well as his heretic character. However, that he was elected thanks to wide-ranging support from partisans and ordinary citizens longing for reform and changes, rather than factional power brokers, is expected to provide a momentum for rekindling the smoldering fire for political reforms. In line with his campaign pledges, Prime Minister Koizumi, in the party reshuffle, totally excluded the followers of the largest Hashimoto faction from the lineup of the party`s key posts and appointed members of the splinter factions.

The debut of the Koizumi ruling structure also is expected to mark a turning point in the direction of the Japanese nation. As he, 49, was born after the end of the World War II and never experienced Japan`s imperial system, he finds himself in a different condition and environment, in contrast with the establishment party leadership that has been preoccupied with the nation`s economic development. Having been raised and educated in democratic ideology and system in the post-war period, Koizumi, on the basis of the Japanese potential and capabilities, he is positioned to steer the nation in the direction of promoting political and economic reforms at home, and pursuing universal value and contributing to the international community for peace.

At the same time, there are some apprehensions over the future of the Koizumi government. First of all, Koizumi belongs to the post-war generation, which knows little about the wrongdoing that the Japanese imperialists committed, but who remembers the nation`s growth and development, rather than the pains of the Japanese defeat in the war. Because of this, there is the possibility that the new Japanese leader would lead the nation toward seizing hegemony in Asia based on a sense of superiority, confidence and a closed nationalism. This position has been testified with his remarks in a press conference that he would promote a constitutional amendment for transforming the existing defense forces into national armed forces, pay visits to the Yasukuni Temple in a capacity of prime minister and express objections to the revision of the authorized school history textbooks. This is raising fresh tensions and a sense of insecurity among other Asian nations.

Nowadays, Japan is facing a leadership crisis. During the past decade, the successive cabinets were significantly short-lived with as many as 10 prime ministers being replaced. Former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone once opined that the firm foundations, the so-called three invincibleness -- politics, economy and society -- have been destroyed. The Asahi Shimbun reported in its Apr. 7 edition that Japan is faced with the greatest crisis since World War II.

As was witnessed in the recent history distortion maneuvers, Japanese society is returning to the reactionism and nationalism in terms of ideologies. If the Koizumi government exploits this tendency, his government is certain to cause friction with its Asian neighbors. This is not in the best interests of not only Japan but also neighboring countries.

With the advent of the Koizumi administration as momentum, Japan hopes to overcome the leadership crisis and embark on a new economic takeoff so as to recover from the decade of economic stagnation. At the same time, as a viable member of the Asian community, it ought to contribute toward promoting common prosperity and peace, and shape a new image as a trustworthy neighbor in Asia. Because Japan has peculiar relationships with Korea in terms of the history distortion issue, co-hosting of the World Cup soccer games, the political participation by the Korean residents in Japan and so on, we will keep a close watch over the Japanese changes and conduct a comprehensive review of the government stance toward that nation.

Han Sang-Il, professor at Kookmin University