[Editorial] Watch Carefully Japan`s Political Rightist Leanings

Japan`s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as anticipated, won in the upper house elections. The LDP secured 65 of the 121 reelection seats, obtaining a total 111 seats. The coalition party has retained 141 of the 247 seats, including Komei Party and Conservative Party, which constitute the coalition party with the LDP.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi`s personal popularity and an expectation of reform seem to have been reflected in the election. It was said that `Koizumi effect` brought about the votes. Considering that the `Koizumi style reform` was the hot issue during the election, it seems to be a natural interpretation. Therefore, it seems certain that Prime Minister Koizumi would be reelected in the presidential election of the LDP, which is to be held in September.

It is clear that Prime Minister Koizumi has obtained power to lead Japan, which has been stagnated in various aspects, such as politics and economy. However, the real battle is expected to start after the election because people did not vote for the LDP but voted as a support for the Koizumi Cabinet, and because the Koizumi`s winning reflected people`s `expectation` not the `actual result` of the Koizumi`s reform. It is a matter of interest whether he can revive the economy and to accomplish the structural reform in the midst of the swoon of various indexes, including stock price, and deflation.

Most of all, we cannot but pay attention to the Koizumi government`s tendency to turn to the conservative right and the attitude of its foreign policy on Asia. He has adhered to a position that seems to support the distortion of the middle school history textbooks. Furthermore, since he, unlike most other Prime Ministers of Japan, has pledged to visit the Yasukuni Shrine as `Prime Minister`, South Korea and China have strongly opposed to that.

It is concerned that whether `diplomatic retrogression`, which will irritate and bring about conflicts, may be accelerated due to his winning in the election. Of course, Japanese civic organizations are more strongly opposing to the use of the distorted history textbooks, and the Komei Party, one of the coalition party with the LDP, is opposing to the `Prime Minister`s visit to the Yasukuni`. The Media is also asking whether Japan is willing to face the `paralysis of the foreign policy on Asia.`

Nevertheless, it is possible that the Japanese government does not stop its rightist tendency and damages the good relationships with neighboring countries in order to highlight the popular and powerful leader figure aiming at the presidential election of the LDP. If the Japanese government turns to the rightist rather than throwing away the anachronistic consciousness of history, another disaster and misfortune will begin. Our government should carefully watch Japan and adopt the decisive diplomatic countermeasures.