Notes: Camryn Nieuwstad
Lecturer & Slide Creator: Dr. Casper Wits
Politics: East Asia
Leiden University
Semester One
Lecture One: The Politics of Japan
- Postwar reindustrialization in record time
- One of the highest standards of living in the world
- High point of economic and political stability and growth: 1975 – 1989
- Followed by the Lost Decade(s) from 1900.
o Problems were never addressed.
- Notable: massive contrast before and after 1990.
o 1980s: economic growth, political stability and growing cultural clout and self-
confidence.
o 1990s and after: economic stagnation, political ossification and lack of self-
confidence.
POLITICAL THEMES IN JAPAN 1945-PRESENT
- Legacy of the war/imperialism
- Constitutional (revision)
- Relations with the West and Asia
o Who should they have closest relation with?
- Atomic energy/nuclear weapons
- Gender equality
- Powerful bureaucracy
- “The Iron Triangle”
- Declining Birthrate
THE POLITICAL SYSTEM
- From 1880s: first Western style government in Asia
- At first a parliamentary system modelled on Bismarck’s Prussia
- Postwar: multiparty system with free elections
- 1946: Women’s vote
- Parliament largely similar to other democratic countries
- Through with unique system of vote distribution
- Unusual: “one party dominant” system (similar: to Italy and Sweden).
THE JAPANESE CONSTITUTION (1947)
- Three pillars
- Replaced quasi-absolute monarch with liberal
constitution
Democracy
- Drafted under supervision of SCAP
- Significant input from the Japanese
Liberal and pacifist
Politicians. Rights and
democracy
distributions
Pacifism 1
,Notes: Camryn Nieuwstad
Lecturer & Slide Creator: Dr. Casper Wits
- Hard to amend.
CONSTITUTION CHAPTER 2: REUNUCIATION OF WAR
- Aspiring sincerely to an international based on justice and order,
- the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation
- the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
- In order to accomplish this the following will never be maintained:
o Land forces,
o Sea forces
o Air forces
- The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.
- Makes the country pacifist.
In Summary:
- No foreign wars
- No armed forces
- Self-defence
JAPAN SELF DEFENCE FORCES (JSDF)
- 1954
- Made up of:
o Ground Defense Force (Army)
o Air Self-defense force (Air Force)
o Maritime Defense Force (Navy)
th
- 8 largest military budget in the world.
- But constrained by constitution.
o Only to be used to defense or peace keeping missions.
- From 2001: joins international counter-terrorism effort.
- Last 20 years: there have been numerous legal changes that allow the JSDF to move
beyond defense.
o E.g., anti-piracy missions.
1951: SECURITY TREATY BETWEEN THE US AND JAPAN
- “ANPO”
- ’51 Security Theory
- Unrestricted use of bases for US Military.
- Security guarantee (US will safeguard Japan).
- Complete control US over Okinawa (changes in 1972).
o Local people pointing at the damage and negative influence of US soldiers.
o 50 000 US troops in Japan.
▪ E.g., Okinawa bases
o Contentions with US soldiers.
- Japan’s military activities abroad restricted.
2
,Notes: Camryn Nieuwstad
Lecturer & Slide Creator: Dr. Casper Wits
JAPAN’S POLITICAL SYSTEM: THE EMPEROR
- Acts as symbol of the state.
- Very few formal powers
- Ceremonial role
- No advisory role
- Must act on advice of the PM and Cabinet.
- Can never speak about politics in public.
- Talk about emperors in different eras:
o Heisei Era: “Peace Everywhere”
▪ Akihito (emperor’s name)
▪ 1989-2019.
o Reiwa Era: “Beautiful Harmony”
▪ Naruhito
▪ 2019 –
THE POLITICAL SYSTEM: THE DIET
- Bicameral legislature (two houses)
o 1. House of Councilors
▪ 242 seats
▪ Six-year term (half elected every 3 years)
▪ Cannot be dissolved prematurely.
o 2. House of Representatives
▪ 475 seats
▪ Four-year term
▪ Can be dissolved prematurely.
▪ Can issue a resolution of no confidence in the cabinet.
▪ Must be dissolved by the emperor on advice of the PM.
DIET: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
- Most powerful of the two chambers
- Sekihairitsu: Candidates elected through a complex blend of PR and FPTP
Constituency system.
o PR: proportional representation
▪ 6% votes = 6% seats
o FPTP: first past the post
▪ One representative for that local area
▪ Almost always ends up being a 2-party system.
▪ Not proportional representation.
- Due to the lack of PR votes: the rural votes carry more weight than urban votes.
- Since 1947 – urbanization
o People moving from the country to the city.
o Logical to update the division.
▪ Therefore, rural people have better representation than urban people.
▪ Rural people tend to be more conservative.
• Care more about farmers than gender equality.
3
, Notes: Camryn Nieuwstad
Lecturer & Slide Creator: Dr. Casper Wits
JAPANESE POLITICAL SYSTEM: THE PRIME MINSTER AND CABINET
- Prime Minister appointed by the emperor.
- Prime Minster selects and removes ministers in the cabinet.
- The Cabinet:
o A majority of cabinet ministers must come from the Diet.
o Cabinet members serve while concurrently Diet members.
o All cabinet members must be civilians.
KISHIDA FUMIO
- Prime Minister: September 2021.
- Liberal Democracy Party (LDP)
- Former Foreign Minister (2012-2017).
- Relatively moderate and consistent
- Some economic distribution to the middle class
- Not interested in changing constitution’s article 9.
- Hiroshima roots mean he is very involved with nuclear non-proliferation.
- International focus on containing China and North Korea and having strong ties with
the West.
- Improvement of relations with South Korea.
JAPANESE POLITICAL SYSTEM: THE SUPREME COURT
- Head of the supreme court
o Designated by the cabinet, appointed by the emperor.
o Appoints other members of the judiciary.
o Judicial review
▪ Rarely exercised – eight times since 1947
POLITICAL PARTIES
4
Lecturer & Slide Creator: Dr. Casper Wits
Politics: East Asia
Leiden University
Semester One
Lecture One: The Politics of Japan
- Postwar reindustrialization in record time
- One of the highest standards of living in the world
- High point of economic and political stability and growth: 1975 – 1989
- Followed by the Lost Decade(s) from 1900.
o Problems were never addressed.
- Notable: massive contrast before and after 1990.
o 1980s: economic growth, political stability and growing cultural clout and self-
confidence.
o 1990s and after: economic stagnation, political ossification and lack of self-
confidence.
POLITICAL THEMES IN JAPAN 1945-PRESENT
- Legacy of the war/imperialism
- Constitutional (revision)
- Relations with the West and Asia
o Who should they have closest relation with?
- Atomic energy/nuclear weapons
- Gender equality
- Powerful bureaucracy
- “The Iron Triangle”
- Declining Birthrate
THE POLITICAL SYSTEM
- From 1880s: first Western style government in Asia
- At first a parliamentary system modelled on Bismarck’s Prussia
- Postwar: multiparty system with free elections
- 1946: Women’s vote
- Parliament largely similar to other democratic countries
- Through with unique system of vote distribution
- Unusual: “one party dominant” system (similar: to Italy and Sweden).
THE JAPANESE CONSTITUTION (1947)
- Three pillars
- Replaced quasi-absolute monarch with liberal
constitution
Democracy
- Drafted under supervision of SCAP
- Significant input from the Japanese
Liberal and pacifist
Politicians. Rights and
democracy
distributions
Pacifism 1
,Notes: Camryn Nieuwstad
Lecturer & Slide Creator: Dr. Casper Wits
- Hard to amend.
CONSTITUTION CHAPTER 2: REUNUCIATION OF WAR
- Aspiring sincerely to an international based on justice and order,
- the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation
- the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
- In order to accomplish this the following will never be maintained:
o Land forces,
o Sea forces
o Air forces
- The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.
- Makes the country pacifist.
In Summary:
- No foreign wars
- No armed forces
- Self-defence
JAPAN SELF DEFENCE FORCES (JSDF)
- 1954
- Made up of:
o Ground Defense Force (Army)
o Air Self-defense force (Air Force)
o Maritime Defense Force (Navy)
th
- 8 largest military budget in the world.
- But constrained by constitution.
o Only to be used to defense or peace keeping missions.
- From 2001: joins international counter-terrorism effort.
- Last 20 years: there have been numerous legal changes that allow the JSDF to move
beyond defense.
o E.g., anti-piracy missions.
1951: SECURITY TREATY BETWEEN THE US AND JAPAN
- “ANPO”
- ’51 Security Theory
- Unrestricted use of bases for US Military.
- Security guarantee (US will safeguard Japan).
- Complete control US over Okinawa (changes in 1972).
o Local people pointing at the damage and negative influence of US soldiers.
o 50 000 US troops in Japan.
▪ E.g., Okinawa bases
o Contentions with US soldiers.
- Japan’s military activities abroad restricted.
2
,Notes: Camryn Nieuwstad
Lecturer & Slide Creator: Dr. Casper Wits
JAPAN’S POLITICAL SYSTEM: THE EMPEROR
- Acts as symbol of the state.
- Very few formal powers
- Ceremonial role
- No advisory role
- Must act on advice of the PM and Cabinet.
- Can never speak about politics in public.
- Talk about emperors in different eras:
o Heisei Era: “Peace Everywhere”
▪ Akihito (emperor’s name)
▪ 1989-2019.
o Reiwa Era: “Beautiful Harmony”
▪ Naruhito
▪ 2019 –
THE POLITICAL SYSTEM: THE DIET
- Bicameral legislature (two houses)
o 1. House of Councilors
▪ 242 seats
▪ Six-year term (half elected every 3 years)
▪ Cannot be dissolved prematurely.
o 2. House of Representatives
▪ 475 seats
▪ Four-year term
▪ Can be dissolved prematurely.
▪ Can issue a resolution of no confidence in the cabinet.
▪ Must be dissolved by the emperor on advice of the PM.
DIET: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
- Most powerful of the two chambers
- Sekihairitsu: Candidates elected through a complex blend of PR and FPTP
Constituency system.
o PR: proportional representation
▪ 6% votes = 6% seats
o FPTP: first past the post
▪ One representative for that local area
▪ Almost always ends up being a 2-party system.
▪ Not proportional representation.
- Due to the lack of PR votes: the rural votes carry more weight than urban votes.
- Since 1947 – urbanization
o People moving from the country to the city.
o Logical to update the division.
▪ Therefore, rural people have better representation than urban people.
▪ Rural people tend to be more conservative.
• Care more about farmers than gender equality.
3
, Notes: Camryn Nieuwstad
Lecturer & Slide Creator: Dr. Casper Wits
JAPANESE POLITICAL SYSTEM: THE PRIME MINSTER AND CABINET
- Prime Minister appointed by the emperor.
- Prime Minster selects and removes ministers in the cabinet.
- The Cabinet:
o A majority of cabinet ministers must come from the Diet.
o Cabinet members serve while concurrently Diet members.
o All cabinet members must be civilians.
KISHIDA FUMIO
- Prime Minister: September 2021.
- Liberal Democracy Party (LDP)
- Former Foreign Minister (2012-2017).
- Relatively moderate and consistent
- Some economic distribution to the middle class
- Not interested in changing constitution’s article 9.
- Hiroshima roots mean he is very involved with nuclear non-proliferation.
- International focus on containing China and North Korea and having strong ties with
the West.
- Improvement of relations with South Korea.
JAPANESE POLITICAL SYSTEM: THE SUPREME COURT
- Head of the supreme court
o Designated by the cabinet, appointed by the emperor.
o Appoints other members of the judiciary.
o Judicial review
▪ Rarely exercised – eight times since 1947
POLITICAL PARTIES
4
