Lovely smiles Hide the Pathetic State of Politics

"I want to do my best with enough love to cover the Earth," said Ryoko Tani, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, at a news conference Monday to announce her candidacy in this summer's Upper House election on the Democratic Party of Japan ticket.

She is one of few people who can deliver such a line unabashed and with a beaming smile.

That must be part of the reason why the DPJ decided to field her. No normal person could try out for the Olympics and engage in national politics "on the side." People who devote themselves to either one must be annoyed at the idea.

The DPJ is putting up several well-known figures, including a former gymnast, a rakugo storyteller, an actress and a singer. The Liberal Democratic Party is fielding former professional Yomiuri Giants baseball pitcher Tsuneo Horiuchi, and the Sunrise Party of Japan is endorsing the candidacy of Kiyoshi Nakahata, also a former Giants player.

The lineup is so diversified that it almost looks like that of a variety show. These people, who polished their skills and made their names in their own specialist areas, must want to draw on their experiences while working for the public good. But I want to know why they have chosen to be lawmakers, instead of giving lectures or writing books.


In the Upper House election this summer, tens of millions of voters, who are giving up on the LDP and feel betrayed by the DPJ, are going to drift. Sitting next to Tani, DPJ Secretary-General Ichiro Ozawa told reporters: "I feel as if we won over a million or 10 million friends." Maybe he meant "votes." Celebrities running in the proportional representation system are traditionally thought to attract votes.

When we look around the world, there are inspirational people like Tani who make us want to place our trust in them. However, now more than ever, our politicians need professional awareness and competence to get things done. They must have a passion for rebuilding the nation and the wisdom and skills to work out policies that will give shape to that passion and then explain those policies to the public. A refreshing smile is a mere extra gift.

The political world is in the midst of a complete overhaul. The election is a good chance also for voters to shed old thinking. But once again, it looks like smiles and name recognition are going to be the decisive factors. How pathetic. The choosing of governments based on election manifestoes supposedly enhanced the nation's politics.

Once that connection starts to loosen, it can fall apart in no time.

I find myself thinking, "Is this right?" in the face of a magnificent extra gift.

from Asahi Shimbun


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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.