Time has passed quickly though everyday life lacks changes due to the corona virus impacts. We have found, however, dramatic, rapid changes in the political life. Let’s look at what happened in the year 2021.
CURRENT PEACE CONSTITUTION MAY BE REPLACED BY NEW ONE
The year 2021 has seen disastrous outcomes from the corona virus, a change of the Cabinet and the general election. Fellow readers, you have certainly been active in supporting opposition candidates in various elections, extending helps to needy people and keeping human relations online. You have worked a lot.
Social moods have changed
Many things, however, have in fact changed. A temporary drop of the infections disease, articles on China and Republic of Korea (ROK) are seen as topical issues in the mainstream media.
The Biden administration in the United States, which was, at first, expected as better than one led by the former president, is strengthening its hostile posture to China. It has instantly begun to contain the Asian nation in the economic and military terms, involving Japan and its allies.
The former Suga government was incapable, and was momentarily replaced by the Kishida administration. The general election came immediately, to bring a very different, political landscape. The election has left unexpected result.
Prime Minister Kishida has eventually changed his stance; before the general election he had asserted to intensify military capabilities, but later, he emphasizes potential to attack enemy bases. He had said to expect debates on the constitution in the Diet sessions, but now says ‘parliamentary members should inspire discussions among people on the current constitution whether it matches to today’s needs.’
That is not a simple change of expressions. It is to cross the Rubicon.
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Democratic party (CDP), the biggest opposition party, told that it would be a party to propose policies, not remaining an opposition. The CDP does not have aspiration to prevent the government from crossing the Rubicon, as you see it during the parliament’s extraordinary session; they just ostensibly criticized the administration’s position on the constitution and the assertion on capabilities to attack enemies.
We see an expression these days, ‘a war is seen in the depth of the corridor’. If not seen, we feel some air around us that a new version of constitution is approaching.
A stalemate does not exist
No stalemate, however, exists in the world. It is a saying.
The opposition league was partially succesfull in the general election, hitting severely the coalition force of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Komeito. Governor of Okinawa, Tamaki Denny, showed a tremendously courageous decision not to allow the central government to complete the new military base in the island. Election cooperation efforts between the New Socialist Party and the restructured Social- Democratic Party is advancing to cope with the coming election for the House of Councilors. Determined voters are ready for new electoral dimensions.
I notice now a phenomenon in the trains: people are reading books. A smartphone seems to disturb thinking. More people recognize a need to think over matters, partly because of staying home. Jinbocho, the neighborhood of the party’s office building resides, is a town of secondhand bookstores. Young people are seen more frequently in the streets.
新型コロナ禍、内閣交代、総選挙と瞬く間の１年だった。読者の皆さんは、野党候補の応援をしたり、困窮する人々の相談に応じたり、オンライン会議で絆を維持したり、頑張ったことでしょう。
様変わりした風景
しかし何かと様変わりした。感染の一時収束で、コロナ以外の話題がメディアで増えたら、中国や韓国がとり上げられるようになった。 トランプ政権に代わって登場したバイデン政権は期待されたが、対中国の姿勢は日増しに強硬になり、日本をはじめ各国を巻き込んで経済的・軍事的包囲網の形成に走り出した。
無策の菅政権は瞬く間に岸田政権に代わり、息つく間もなく総選挙に突入し、期待に反した結果で風景が一変した。
岸田首相は豹変した。総選挙前は｢防衛力の強化｣だったが、臨時国会では｢敵基地攻撃能力｣へと変わった。｢憲法の議論を期待｣は、「憲法が今の時代にふさわしいものであり続けているかどうか、国会議員が国民の議論を喚起していこう」へと変わった。
チョットした表現の変化ではない。ルビコン川に踏み入れたと言ってよい。
一方、立憲民主党は｢批判政党｣から｢提案政党｣に変わると宣言した。言うように臨時国会での「敵基地攻撃能力」や｢憲法｣に関する立民党の｢批判｣には、ルビコンを渡らせまいとする決意はうかがえなかった。
最近「廊下の奥に戦争が立っていた」というフレーズを目にする。そこまででなくとも、「新憲法がノックしている」くらいの実感はある。
八方塞がりはない
だが「世に八方塞がりはなし」。野党共闘は一部ながら自公を痛打し、玉城デニー知事は新基地建設を阻む不退転の決意を示した。新生社民党と新社会党などによる参院選への共同は一歩進んだ。覚悟を固めた人々が、それぞれに抵抗の炎を燃やし続けている。
最近電車で気がついたことがある。読書をする人が増えてきたのである。スマホは人に考えさせないらしい。コロナ巣ごもりのせいか、事象を落ちついて考えようとする人が増えてきたのではないか。新社会党本部のある神保町は古本屋街だが、若い人が増えてきている。
とにかく健康には留意され、良い年をお迎えください。
英訳版↓
No. 1239 Looking Back 2021
Time has passed quickly though everyday life lacks changes due to the corona virus impacts. We have found, however, dramatic, rapid changes in the political life. Let’s look at what happened in the year 2021.
CURRENT PEACE CONSTITUTION MAY BE REPLACED BY NEW ONE
The year 2021 has seen disastrous outcomes from the corona virus, a change of the Cabinet and the general election. Fellow readers, you have certainly been active in supporting opposition candidates in various elections, extending helps to needy people and keeping human relations online. You have worked a lot.
Social moods have changed
Many things, however, have in fact changed. A temporary drop of the infections disease, articles on China and Republic of Korea (ROK) are seen as topical issues in the mainstream media.
The Biden administration in the United States, which was, at first, expected as better than one led by the former president, is strengthening its hostile posture to China. It has instantly begun to contain the Asian nation in the economic and military terms, involving Japan and its allies.
The former Suga government was incapable, and was momentarily replaced by the Kishida administration. The general election came immediately, to bring a very different, political landscape. The election has left unexpected result.
Prime Minister Kishida has eventually changed his stance; before the general election he had asserted to intensify military capabilities, but later, he emphasizes potential to attack enemy bases. He had said to expect debates on the constitution in the Diet sessions, but now says ‘parliamentary members should inspire discussions among people on the current constitution whether it matches to today’s needs.’
That is not a simple change of expressions. It is to cross the Rubicon.
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Democratic party (CDP), the biggest opposition party, told that it would be a party to propose policies, not remaining an opposition. The CDP does not have aspiration to prevent the government from crossing the Rubicon, as you see it during the parliament’s extraordinary session; they just ostensibly criticized the administration’s position on the constitution and the assertion on capabilities to attack enemies.
We see an expression these days, ‘a war is seen in the depth of the corridor’. If not seen, we feel some air around us that a new version of constitution is approaching.
A stalemate does not exist
No stalemate, however, exists in the world. It is a saying.
The opposition league was partially succesfull in the general election, hitting severely the coalition force of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Komeito. Governor of Okinawa, Tamaki Denny, showed a tremendously courageous decision not to allow the central government to complete the new military base in the island. Election cooperation efforts between the New Socialist Party and the restructured Social- Democratic Party is advancing to cope with the coming election for the House of Councilors. Determined voters are ready for new electoral dimensions.
I notice now a phenomenon in the trains: people are reading books. A smartphone seems to disturb thinking. More people recognize a need to think over matters, partly because of staying home. Jinbocho, the neighborhood of the party’s office building resides, is a town of secondhand bookstores. Young people are seen more frequently in the streets.
Take care of yourself and have a Happy New Year.
December 22, 2021