Hidden in the mess of the world cup, one of the dinosaur politicians is going to be arrested in few hours. By the time you will read this, he will be in jail. This followed a special procedure as during the parliamentary period, politicians are protected, under the constitution. All Japan is under shock and anger. Finally 'anger', I would say, knowing the ever lasting temper of the Japanese people, which has been encouraging the politicians to enjoy their freedom and money. The name of the politician is Muneo Suzuki from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Everybody who has read about Japanese politics must have heard this party's name. It is the party which has been ruling Japan for the past 55 years. They lost the majority only in 1992 for just few years. All sections of the industry that was developed after the war are colluded with this party, and no other coalition will actually be able to lead the country in the same way anymore.
Anyway, leaving all the talking aside, I would like to stress that this is a turning point for the Japanese politics as well as for the economy. Other five members from LDP have been arrested in the last few months, including cabinet members. The Japanese version of the 'Mani pulite' ('The clean hands' in Italy which tackled the D.C.) might take place. The rate of the governmental support has fallen to 30% from the original 80% of last year.
In the mind of many people, there stands the image of the 'Lockheed' case (An American airline company that bought Japanese politicians to work for their interests) in the 70s, in which Kakuei Tanaka was caught. (He is the father of the ex-foreign minister Makiko Tanaka, the first woman who undertook such a position in the history of Japan. He left a famous saying in Japan in the 80s: 'Consumption is virtue') He was caught and became a hero, and even his daughter marked the political history as one of the most popular politicians in the country. As happens everywhere people were dying for a conservative charismatic figure. I wonder if we will escape from this kind of conclusion, this time.
There are many similar stories in every country I guess. (Although we are doing better than many other countries I am sure.) But what characterizes our stories is that everything happens extremely slowly in Japan. However, people seem to have started realizing they cannot keep quiet for ever.
