Psephologist Dr. Donna Weeks has spent the last 40 years engaged with Japan’s politics and peace issues and shared insights on the Seek-Sustainable-Japan talkshow-podcast about Japan’s upcoming leadership race for who is going to be Japan’s next Prime Minister. The following is a summary of the key candidates and issues discussed in the show.
Politics & Sustainability?
Japanese politics is not something we often talk about on the show, but governance is key part of creating a better quality of life for people, protecting the environment in balance with profits needed for a strong economy.
How clear are the candidates on their environmental policies? More emphasis is on the social equity aspects of improving quality of life, but that also includes environmental and economic factors- so they are all related.
Dr. Donna Weeks has a great insight on these potential candidates after following their political careers for many years. The order of these candidates follows the order I brought them up in the interview. The final candidate happens to be Dr.Weeks’ top choice as she feels Japan needs to have the “LDP conscience” now in terms of dependable leadership.
Taro Kono
Taro Kono (61) is the acting Digital Minister of Japan and has been called a “maverick” by the LDP party for getting things done. Kono was also called the Vaccine Czar overseeing the rollout during the COVID pandemic. He is a graduate of Georgetown university in the US, former Defense minister and former Foreign minister.
Kono had long been known within his party as a skeptic on the increased use of nuclear power. But to power the advanced data centers of the future, he said Monday that more clean electricity was needed and that renewable energy alone could not provide the expected demand. He spoke of the importance of replacing Japan’s current nuclear reactors and of new energy sources such as hydrogen- and ammonia-powered plants. The Japan Times 8/26/2024
Dr.Donna Weeks on Taro Kono who says he is popular with the public, has a good command of English and is a stronger force for national security.
Shinjiro Koizumi
Shinjiro Koizumi (43) is son of popular former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi who was in power in the early 2000’s. Shinjiro Koizumi is the youngest of the candidates but is very popular in polls — a public favorite according to the Japan Times — which many people think is thanks to his father’s legacy.
According to a poll conducted by the Nikkei and TV Tokyo on Wednesday and Thursday, 23% of all respondents and 32% of LDP supporters thought he would be the best LDP president among 11 possible candidates. The Japan Times
Koizumi has one of the most clear policy agendas on the environment, climate change, government reform and social security reform and is likely to launch his campaign this week.
Dr.Donna Weeks on Shinjiro Koizumi who she says is popular with the public and taking a strong stance on modern issues like allowing married women to keep their maiden name.
Takayuki Kobayashi
Takayuki Kobayashi (50) is a Harvard university graduate of the Kennedy school of government who has been working in Japanese politics since 2010. Like Koizumi, Dr.Weeks made a point that they might not be thinking they will be elected to PM this time, but throwing their hat in the ring now puts them in a better position for the next election down the road.
Dr. Donna Weeks on Takayuki Kobayashi who says he leveraging his youth as an asset and focused on cost of living issues.
Kobayashi laid out his vision for the future of the party and the country, touching on policy areas ranging from the economy to diplomacy, social security and constitutional revision. The Japan Times
Yoko Kamikawa
Yoko Kamikawa (70) like Kobayashi is also a Harvard Kennedy school graduate who also worked with three of the recent cabinets at the top of the government from Abe’s in 2017, to Suga’s in 2020 and now in Kishida’s since 2021. Over the years she has worked as gender equality minister and as the active participation for women chair so she has a good understanding of one of the key issues for a stronger economy- including women at work.
Dr.Donna Weeks on Yoko Kamikawa who says Kamikawa engages well on an international stage, but women may have to be the head of their own factions in the LDP to have a chance to become president.
Since Kamikawa took office in September, her reputation has been gradually bolstered by her energetic diplomatic trips to the point where some in the ruling coalition expect her to become the country’s first female prime minister. The Japan Times 1/14/2024
Sanae Takaichi
Sanae Takaichi (63) has had a long career in the LDP working on everything from immigration to agriculture to IT and cyber security. She has been regarded as the first female Prime Minister potential candidate since 2021. On her official website, you can see the many books she has written about varied topics from Japan security and future strength to American politics. She has also written a book on Margaret Thatcher who she said she wants to be like.
Dr.Donna Weeks on Sanae Takaichi who says Takaichi would likely follow Abe’s lead to revise the constitution and has a conservative agenda.
Toshimitsu Motegi
Toshimitsu Motegi (68) is a Harvard graduate who also has a long career as a leader in the LDP but has often been considered #2 to the president. Apparently he was called a “tough negotiator” by Trump in 2020, but he often has a low profile in Japanese politics. According to a TV Asahi poll quoted in the Japan Times, Motegi is not polling well with the public.
Dr.Donna Weeks on Toshimitsu Motegi who says Motegi has a lot of important experience and has held key positions.
Despite an illustrious resume — in the last decade he has served as party policy chief, economy minister and foreign minister — his popularity with the public at large remains low. In a recent TV Asahi poll, only 1% of respondents selected him as their top choice to be Kishida’s successor. The Japan Times 4/18/2024
Shigeru Ishiba
Shigeru Ishiba (67) is a veteran lawmaker who is originally from Tottori prefecture and this is his fifth (and he claims final) attempt to become LDP president. Ishiba was the former defense minister and is quite popular with the general public, but often less supported within the party.
Dr.Donna Weeks on Shigeru Ishiba who calls him “the LDP’s internal critic” and would be her choice for who would be the best choice in this election.
His decision to open his campaign in Tottori — while indicating his resolve to prioritize rural areas and tackle the imbalances caused by the overconcentration of people and economic activities in Tokyo — also signals his attempt to appeal to the broader nationwide party base, traditionally one of his key areas of support. The Japan TImes 8/24/2024
~~~~~~~~~~~
About Dr.Donna Weeks
Donna has spent most of her career teaching and researching Japanese politics and peace studies at the Department of Political Science at Musashino University, Tokyo. Now based back home in Brisbane, Australia, but still with an eye on Japanese politics Dr.Weeks can walk us through some of the candidates to look out for in this upcoming prime minister race in Tokyo, the recent Tokyo governor’s race and most importantly what kind of politics we should be seeking.
Dr.Donna Weeks LINKS: Blog | Instagram | Threads | Articles on the Interpreter | Women Missing but Active in Japan Politics article
~~~~~~~~~~~~
