The liberalism should be leading political concept of
the 21st century.

1. The liberal group has diapered in the LDP.

- Post Mr.Kato's challenge in the LDP.-

Last year Mr.Koichi Kato(the leader of the Kato faction)'s challenge to overthrow the Mori Cabinet by agreeing to the Cabinet's nonconfidence bill failed due to the LDP's political management. This incident made me feel that the LDP had shown to the people(or members of nation) the spectacle indicating that the LDP, the party having a leading function in the 20th century, had at last lost the capability to lead the Japanese politics in the 21st century.
This is illustrated by the following fact:
According to the article of newspaper, magazine, Shirakawa's BBS in the Web site, various e-mails which I received, 10% of these voices were to understand and advocate Mr.Kato's challenge. Not any voice, however, understood and appreciated the LDP's such reaction that Mr.Kato's challenge was suppressed and followed by the big reshuffle of the Mori Cabinet.
Most voices might say that it is a matter of course, and there is no need to say, that the LDP has lost the leading function in the 21st century, having no future.
But, since this party is the ruling party, there is need to analyze the reason why the aforementioned feeling was formed. Besides, I have responsibility to do that, because I have stayed in this party for a long time. Regardless of various arguments, the reality is the LDP is ruling the Japanese politics. To analyze the said reason will be closely connected to consider how the politics should be in the 21st century.

According to the e-mail coming from the person who runs the spa-inn in Fukushima Prefecture, just before 9 PM on Nov. 20 when the plenary session in question began, bathrooms were completely vacant,not only in his inn but also all other inns in the spa-town. This kind of situation never happened before. This indicates how much people were interested in Mr.Kato's political challenge. It seems that most people are keenly anticipating Mr.Kato's political action to change the LDP's politics and to bring about a big change in the Japanese politics. The other side of this aspect shows that people are very much weary of the Mori Cabinet in the coalition government of the so-called Jikoho (the LDP and the Komeito and the Conservative Party)
The three ruling party in the coalition government obtained an absolute majority in the general election held just before. Nevertheless, we have to consider seriously why this administration was a little bit hated by the people.

Although the reshuffling was made by the Cabinet at the time of the reorganization of the Ministries starting from the new millennium, the supporting ratio of the Mori Cabinet has never been improved. I myself made comment on the Mr.Koga's inauguration into the Secretary General of the LDP, but not on the reshuffling of the Cabinet, because such event seemed to me to be so meaningless politically that I would not like to make comment on it. I guess that most people accepted this event in the same manner. As a political strategy, such event might work at a glance. But it will not work essentially, without deceiving eyes of the people.

Let me consider as to what has been the LDP? Although there have been various problems,the LDP was a party which was liberal and democratic literally. That is to say, the party defined itself as the party defending the liberty and the democracy, and such definition was true in the reality. Just before the general election, however, even members inside the LDP said that the LDP had become a 'non-liberal''non-democratic' party.

What Mr.Nonaka, Secretary General did politically was so extraordinary, justifying such remarks.And thus the LDP was defeated in the general election.Nevertheless,there was no voice to call him to account.This has never happened in the LDP. The LDP has really become a non-liberal non-democratic party. Although young members of the LDP formed a group to create the future of the LDP, it did not work for improvement of the situation.

Two streams of tide and the existence of a rabble (members without solid creed)

Let me analyze the political situation of the LDP. The LDP has been composed of three elements, namely, a tide called as new-conservatism, a tide called as liberalism, a rabble which desires to belong to a ruling party.Those who put less emphasis on the creed,with the desire to belong to a ruling party, are a rabble gathering around the administration. I call them as a rabble.

Let me think of a rabble. There are a lot of rabble all over the world, larger than expected. Accordingly, there might be a better name than this, but my vocabulary does not allow such finding. But whatever good name it is given, it is nothing but a rabble. What it can do is to support an administration but not to create an administration.
And this kind of men will be those who run away from this party if a new administration is born.In1993 when the LDP became an opposition party,I found a lot of that kind of members.
In this respect, the tides which lead the LDP are two streams,namely, the new conservatism and the liberalism. In the LDP, there are not so big but a group of people who believe in the new-conservatism. Mr.Nakasone, the ex-Prime Minister, might be classified as this group. But definitely speaking, he might represent old conservatism, having such political stance.

The reason why the new- conservatism is not so strong in the LDP is because the liberal party headed by Mr.Ichiro Ozawa represents this new-conservatism. Even if some members would like to call themselves as new-conservatists, without hoisting the new-conservatism as a party, Mr.Ozawa will represent the new-conservatism politically, since he formed one party. This is so-called political dynamics. The reason why the Liberal Party won various elections to certain extent is because Ozawa's Liberal Party gathers support from the people of the new-conservatism.

The liberal faction of the LDP was destroyed

Then, who represents the liberals of the LDP? In the past, Tanzan Ishibashi, ex-Prime Minister was raised. In recent years, Masayoshi Ohira,ex-Prime Minister could be raised. And the Koichi Kato represents liberals under the current political situation. What Mr.Kato stated in the mass-communication and carried out as the Secretary-General and Chief Of Policy Research Committee of the LDP, were appreciated as representing the liberals.

Let me define the liberal or liberalism in my own way. The liberal or liberalism is definable as liberalism paying much consideration to the social justice. In contrast, the new-conservatism are defined as doctrine which implements a part of the principle of liberalism. To make the matter simpler, I call them as naked liberalism. The common points to both sides are liberalism.

This tide of liberals were represented by Mr.Kato politically. Mr.Hatoyama, head of the Democratic Party, likes to use the word of new-liberal. But he doesn't represent the liberal of Japan. Because the Democratic party is not regarded by the people as liberalism. People does not know details of the politics but are aware of the liberals as one group of liberalism.

People understand that the Democratic Party amalgamated with the Socialist Party would not become a party of liberalism in essence. In reality, the Democratic Party is supported by labor unions in various regions. Although Mr.Hatoyama expressed intention to guide the party to a one not relying on the labor unions, he would not obtain the current number of seats if he didn't rely on the labor unions. This is why Mr.Hatoyama does not represent the liberal whatever way he tries to call the party as liberal.

Mr.Kato's challenge could be mentioned as a revolt of the liberals of the LDP, regardless of whether he considers the challenge as such or not. And the failure of Mr.Kato's challenge signifies that the liberals of the LDP were defeated by the rabble mercilessly. The people who love the liberty are looking forward to a victory of the liberals. Accordingly, Mr.Kato's challenge was anticipated that much. The anticipation of these people has been betrayed completely by Mr.Kato and the LDP.

The layers of the people who supports the liberals of the LDP are those who are classified as high society, politically, socially, and economically. To suppress the Kato's challenge means to suppress these people.
It is true that Mr.Kato and his colleagues are expressing their intention to reform the LDP, but most of those who support the liberals of the LDP have already given up the support of the LDP due to this incident.

People have not gotten so generous as to allow the misconduct of the LDP. Besides the LDP has lost the absolute authority which they enjoyed before. Only the rabble, who have been absorbed in the coalition administration of Jikoho, have such illusion, without having an ideal and a pride.

2. The rabble are hovering over the LDP.

- Current situation of the former heroes-

The reason why a supporting ratio of the people is so low is because what the Prime Minister Mori stated and carried out politically was considered to be meaningless. But these criticism can be applied not only to the Prime Minister Mori, but also to the party as a whole. The LDP has lost both the tide of the new-conservatism and the tide of the liberalism, which could lead this party.
Under the circumstance, there remain the rabble sticking to the administration in this party. That is my impression.

And the former heroes were defeated by the rabble and were degraded. For example, Mr.Yohei Kono, the Foreign Minister is raised. Do people feel the hope and vigor which he had when he lead the New-liberal Club? Are there Kono-ism (Kono's diplomatic philosophy) in his diplomacy?
People might feel in the following way: he is paying royalty to the rabble and awaiting a seat of the Prime Minister, without solid political activity.

Mr.Kiichi Miyazawa, the first Minister of Treasury semis to be sticking to this post for his own life. He was expected to have desire to stay as an official of the MOF, and such expectation came true. But,in order to fulfill his wishes, the goal of the MOF to make the public finance healthy has been chopped up. People are seriously anxious about this situation. This situation could be referred to as degradation of the MOF.The MOF has at last ended itself in the degradation which the MOF has never experienced.

As to Mr.Hashimoto, the former Prime Minister, I could not understand why he accepted the position of the Minister in this situation. I expected that reappearance of Mr.Hashimoto could be possible due to the shortage of man of talent in the LDP. But, why he accepted the position of minister of the Cabinet which totally denies all the policies of the Hashimoto Cabinet? Even if the Mori Cabinet comes to a failure, he would not be considered as the head of anti-These. Why does he understand such simple reasoning? Probably, he has not political aids. The rabble might have said to him that if you would stay in the Cabinet, you would be highly likely to become a Prime Minister.
As to other members, there are a lot on whom I would like to make comments, but they are not worthy of the valuable space for the comment. And let me stop at this point.

The stance of disorder will not bear a good result.

The current LDP can be said as a group of politicians sticking to the administration, without a future vision of Japan, and an ideal how to guide this country. What they are doing is to give flattery to the people.

In my memory, in 1997 the outstanding amounts of the public debts totaled 450trillion yen, including national and local debts, when I was at the office of the Minister of Home Affairs. In this three years, public debts increased by 200trillion yen. Whether the object is the national management or the management of the corporation, fundamental stance is the same. The stance of disorder will not bring about a good result.
During these two years and half since the summer of 1998, what the government adopted as a policy was in disorder.
The stance of disorder never saves Japan. Why did this happen?
Behind the political background in which the LDP took the stance of disorder, there has been a coalition with the Komeito. The coalition with the Komeito would be an alternative which the LDP never be recommended to adopt.
The coalition with the Komeito which is totally different from the LDP in terms of grow-up, mentality and the tendency of the organization, and to conduct the election campaign together, signifies the LDP's losing a pride and an ideal.

The most important matter for the political party and the politicians is to have an ideal and a vision. By considering the vision and the ideal, people are making decision as to which party and politician they will choose. The party which gives up the ideal and pride as the LDP would not gather support of the people.
Even if the LDP will try to keep the support from the people by the help of political power, it is only the support of the rabble sticking to the administration, that can be kept for a moment.
The party and the politician which are supported only by such rabble will have no future. The coalition with the Komeito means stance of disorder which is against simple reasoning.
To expect the LDP to have a good result while having the stance of disorder is to seek for fishes on high branches of a tree.

The LDP being at a deadlock in every direction

The most important thing for the LDP to do is to present to the people fundamental concept and fundamental policy .Even if the LDP takes the policy to deceive eyes of the people,avoiding the basic thing, people would set themselves away from the party.Currently,the LDP is facing a crisis.The LDP should have hoisted a flag of liberals.Nevertheless, the challenge of Mr.Kato was suppressed in the above-mentioned manner.The LDP can not use the flag of liberals for the moment,on the other hand, the LDP cannot use the flag of the new-conservatism which Ozawa's liberal party has taken with them.

I regret to say that the LDP is at a deadlock politically. Although the politics seems to be difficult, it is considered to be really easy. In order to get the administration and the party stronger, political concept should be hoisted clearly, policies based on the concept are to be carried out. For the LDP, there remains nothing but to carry out this simple principle. But that is unexpectedly difficult.Without the courage to deny what the LDP has done for the one to two years, the LDP will not get out of the current predicament in which the LDP is at a deadlock.

What will the LDP being at the deadlock do? I can expect them.
When the current regime comes to a deadlock,subsequent regime would be created, with a little change to the eyes of the people.If the new regime comes to a deadlock,next regime would be created.These scenario would be expected.
The current LDP has lost the capability to reform itself drastically. Either reappearance of Yohei Kono or Mr.Hashimoto would be possible.

But since there is no way to break through,the LDP might take an extraordinary action.The idea of Mr.Junichiro Koizumi as a President of the LDP or the idea of Mrs. Makiko Tanaka might come to surface.In that case, the LDP might catch the popularity for a short period. But has the LDP really the courage to take such action? But it is not certain that these two persons have solid political thought to change and guide the party. When the Mori Cabinet comes to a deadlock, it would be easy to request the substitute for him, but post-Mori would be not so easy to be settled.

3. The contradiction and assignments which the opposition parties have with them.

I have been analyzing the LDP from various angles. To my regret, there are not the statesmen and situation which will give us hope for the 21st century. Then, let me analyze the situation of the opposition parties.

The Democratic party has not clear basic elements.

The Democratic party is the No.1 opposition party. Let me point out at first that the party obtained only 129 seats.
Under the small constituency system, No.1 opposition party is expected to get certain number of seats.At the general election held in1996, the New Frontier party obtained 96 seats among 300 small constituencies.But the Democratic party obtained 80 seats in the small constituencies in the former election. Judging from these figures, the power of the Democratic party as a No.1 opposition party is weak.
The number of seats in the proportional constituency is indeed important, but the power to get the administration, the power of the organization, and vital power of the party can be measured by how many seats the party can obtain in the small constituencies.

Let me say why the Democratic Party could obtain only 80 seats in the small constituencies. I believe that the Democratic party did not attack the point of the violation of detachment between politics and the religion and coalition of LDP and the Komeito. Just before the general election, when Mr.Hatoyama and Mr.Kan tried to touch the issue of detachment between politics and religion, the voice of bitter complaints has raised instantly from the inside of the party. Within the LDP there was also such move, but we neglected such action.

That is because without fighting with the Komeito and Sokagakkai, the LDP will not win the election as a whole after all. Total strategy cannot be changed due to the circumstance at the local constituency. That is the common sense in the election. In this respect, the Democratic Party was not rigid. In how many constituencies the Democratic Party obtained the cooperation from the Komeito or Sokagakkai in the election campaign? It would be not no constituency, but a very few constituencies.

Most people think that the participation of the Komeito into the coalition will violate the principle of detachment between politics and religion, namely, the Article 20th of the Constitution stipulating that no religious organization is allowed to exercise the political power.Without focusing on this issue, I do not think that the party will have real intention to win the election. The opposition parties represented by the Democratic Party opposed the coalition of Jikoho did not definitely say as to what is the problem in the coalition. Such opposition did not really mean the criticism against the coalition.

On top of this,the key officers of the Democratic Party and the Federation says that they are opposing the coalition of the LDP and the Komeito but not opposing the coalition of the democrats and the Komeito. That is non sense.
It is true that a lot of votes protesting the LDP's betrayal by the coalition with the Komeito has been cast into the Democratic Party. I am carefully watching how the Democratic Party will make comments on this issue.

Anyway, the above-mentioned indicates that what the Democratic Party stated and carried out lacks solid thought. That gives, to eyes of the people, unreliable and unclear impression. The reason why the Democratic Party are often takes such attitude is because the ex-socialist party members are existed in that party. At the same time, that is because, without the support of the labor unions, this party will not be able to survive.

I regret to say that in my opinion, labor unions are not able to understand the true sense of the liberalism.
Whether the Democratic Party can become a liberalist party or not needs unexpectedly serious arguments. Without the Democratic Party to become a liberalistic party, this party will have no brilliant future. This is because people are considered to be agreeing with the liberalism.

With regard to other opposition parties as to other opposition parties, the Liberal Party has 22 seats and the Communist party 20 seats, the Social Democratic Party 19 seats in the House of Representatives.
Total seats of 3parties are 61 seats, just half of the number of the seats of the Democratic Party. Let me make comments on each of them.

As to the Liberal Party, this is the party which embraces the liberalism, as its name shows. Definitely speaking, it is the liberalism with the color of new-liberalism. Their assertion is very theoretical and their action is very aggressive, deriving from the character of Mr.Ozawa,the Head.
This party is supported by the liberalists and the people who are not satisfied with the vague part of the LDP.
In this Japan, there is this kind of way of thinking. Accordingly, it is convincing that this party wins various elections to certain extent. If this party had more seats, that would be understandable. But, in my belief, the people who support the concept of the new-conservatism may be 10-15% of the total voters.

With regard to the Communist Party, it has the longest history as a political party, with a various kind of anecdote.It would be very difficult to make comments with a few words. But let me mention one thing. With the realization of the new regime, there might be a very big change, but it is difficult to assess them, without watching the practical political behavior. Although the number of seats are limited, we cannot forget the point that it has unparalleled power of organization, likewise as Komeito when we analyze the political behavior and the reorganization of the political world.

Concerning the Social Democratic Party, the party is tended to win to certain extent, although it has not so big organization,because the image of the Head, Ms.Doi and the political concept of the former socialist party have been asserted. Since the regime of so-called 1955 continued for half century, it would be a matter of course that old supporters continues to support them, without shifting to the Democratic party. But, if this party is supported in the above-mentioned way, this party might have not so brilliant future.

But anyway, to fight in unity by all the opposition parties would be more difficult than the former fight in unity, since the liberal party stands at the right side of the LDP and the Social Democratic party and the Communist party stand at the left side of the democratic party, if I use the non-academic terminology. This is illustrated by the fact that, at the time of Kato's challenge, all the opposition parties could fight in unity when submitting the non-confidence bill to the Diet,but could not fight in unity in the subsequent stage.In future elections to be held, all the opposition parties can fight advantageously, hoisting the flag of anti-LDP or anti-Jikoho, backed by the misconduct of the other side. Nevertheless, there might not be a good atmosphere or a statesman who can give bright future for the 21st century.
In this respect, the opposition side also lies at a deadlock.

4,The move of non-party group being conscious of their ability

The move of non-party group is changing the politics.
Let me carefully analyze the current political tendency of the people. The desire of the people toward the freedom is growing increasingly. The sense of value is diversified in every field such as politics, economy, and society.
Diversification of the sense of value is to insist different value, being the other side of deregulation. In case of politics, the appearance of this diversification is very difficult. As the personal character is often neglected without certain amount of volume, diversification is difficult to appear, but such symptom is appearing.

The Lower House election for supplementation in Tokyo 21st district and Governor's election in Nagano Prefecture and Tochigi Prefecture were proof for the above diversification.
I am particularly paying attention to the Governor's election in Tochigi Prefecture. Tochigi Prefecture is conservative area. Mr.Fukuda's success in this election in spite of his unpopularity and unfavorable treating by Mass Media shows that voters chose the candidate at their own discretion, regardless of the party's recommendation to vote.
Generally speaking, just like Tokyo 21st district or Nagano Prefecture's Governor 's election, the candidate whom the mass media picked up very much will win the election.
In case of Tochigi Prefecture Governor's election,mass media didn't report him substantially. Therefore, the people in the Prefecture did not have the information that Mr.Fukuda was likely to win. It was the revolutionary phenomenon that the people voted independently and carefully, in Tochigi Prefecture where they were customarily recommended to vote some particular candidate in the conservative atmosphere. This is one example which illustrated, I feel, the deregulation in politics.

In these several years, I was paying attention to the existence of non-patty group while I was in charge of election affairs in the LDP Headquarters. I strongly felt that, the LDP will not win the election when the non-party group was treated as opponents,regardless of the candidate in the rural or urban area. The non-party group, as its name shows, does not have particular political doctrine. But the non-party group cannot be regarded as the people of non political opinion. If the LDP gives haughty impression, they become opponents. Conversely speaking, by carefully handling this group, the LDP could avoid the situation that they become enemy,even if they do not come to support us.

The new move of the non-party group and political tendency

I feel that there has been a big change even in this non-party group in this one year. The non-party candidate began to be conscious of the power of non-party group. In other words, the non-party group are getting solidarity, asserting themselves, and having action. If this becomes real move, no political party can beat them, because non-party group has the largest number of people. If there appears a statesman or a party that can organize this group, they can foster a very big political group. Although that is very difficult matter, there were such candidates in the aforementioned three elections.

Let me examine the non-party group a little bit more.
In my view, the non-party group is not free from any doctrine politically. Not to mention their attitude toward the recent LDP, but even when the liberal group was located at the main stream of the LDP, non-party group was taking rigid attitude toward the LDP. If the LDP is taking the haughty political attitude like now, it is obvious that the non-party group will get the position of anti-LDP.

One more thing to say clearly is that the non-party group is tended to be against Jikoho. Whatever earnestly the block of Jikoho try to win a favor of the non-party group, it would be difficult.
The non party group dislikes the Sokagakkai or Komeito essentially. This is obvious from the fact that people are still rigid toward the coalition of Jikoho, although one year has passed since the Komeito participated into the coalition.
The most conspicuous political tendency of the non-party group is to be freedom, I believe. They wishes to be free from the restrain by the politics and the political party and the organization. This can be applied not to the non-party group but to the LDP supporters. The LDP supporters would not necessarily vote the candidate which the LDP has chosen. Therefore, we had trouble to choose the candidate whom the LDP supporters were willing to support. If we are successful in selecting a good candidate, we can say as if we obtained a half of victory. When we could not find out such candidate, in most cases our effort had come to nothing.

Political freedom which the non-party group is searching and its possibilities

Why should I mention the deregulation of the politics at this moment particularly? This is because people do not feel political freedom in the true sense from eyes of the people, although it seems that democracy has been pervasive, based on the new constitution. Indeed there is the freedom to choose to certain extent. Companies, labor unions, business group, influential local community, intervene voters to vote the particular political party and the candidate. Except for the partial exception,there is indeed the freedom of voting.
But that is the freedom to choose one from certain fixed alternatives. People could not feel the true political freedom when the political party selected the candidate based on the convenience of the party and people are only allowed to choose from these alternatives.

Therefore, the deregulation of the politics which I defined is for the people to choose the candidate which they are willing to vote, rejecting the candidate which they do not want. But in reality, the non-party group does not consult together, thus the candidate or the group carry out this process, by rising to action,feeling such atmosphere. This might be unhappy process. But,the success of this similar examples inducing this kind of move, enables the people to choose the candidate which they really want.

If this kind of move happens one after another, and be pervasive completely, this might be obviously political revolution. Every political party would be defeated by this move of deregulation,without ceaseless effort. Every party is now facing this crisis.The largest neck for this move is the shortage of political fund. Some size of election needs the expense of advertisement. The problem is only that matter. The expense for the organization doesn't amount so much. The non-party group is not the organizational existence,such expense is unnecessary in essence. The advantage of political party against the non-party group is to have certain amount of political fund.

If the Internet will be spread more, this problem might be settled. The rate of spread should be by far faster than the actual speed. Even if the rate increase a little bit, that will not work as a effective tool for the election.
Nevertheless, it would be attained within several years to come. In the 21st century, people will be free from a big barrier of political propaganda. This would expedite the deregulation of the politics to proceed, faster than we expected.
But, for a while, mass media will play a big role. If the mass-media will take up the candidate which the people are willing to give support, the non-party group will win almost all the elections. Nevertheless, Japanese mass media has defect having tendency to report the well-known candidate, neglecting the unknown. This is the matter of the high mindedness of the mass media as to how they assess the political deregulation. In this respect, mass media are facing a crisis just like the political parties. The Tochigi Prefecture Governor's election indicates that the people of Tochigi Prefecture surpassed the mass-media in terms of high-mindedness.

I have been focusing on the non-party group. But,for the LDP and the Democratic party, freedom is the most important concept. If the LDP and the Democratic party do not stand on the side of freedom, the existence of these two parties will face a crisis. Therefore, regardless of whether they are aiming for real freedom or not, the two parties cannot avoid advocating the freedom. In this respect, it would be obvious that the key word or concept to lead the politics of 21st century is freedom or liberalism.

5. To make order in terms of liberty - concerning the liberalism

What is the political freedom?

So far, I have been examining the political character of every party and the non-party group. The LDP is, of course, a liberal democratic party,thus, without the liberty, this party will not exist originally. This is the same with the Liberal Party. The Democratic party doesn't have the word of liberalism basically. But, from the birth of this party and basic stance,this party will not deny the liberty. This is indicated in the example in which Mr.Hatoyama regards his political idea as new-liberal. With regard to the conservative party, I have no idea as to how this party grasp the idea of liberals. But that is not worthwhile to do so.

How do the Communist party and the Komeito consider the word of liberty? The Communist party calls themselves as the one,since the communism is the leading idea of this party. Regardless of how this party define the liberty, this is not the party of liberalism, I guess this party will not deny this. Although the Komeito emphasizes the idea of peace and the human rights, this party is obviously not the party of liberalism,judging from the birth, character,and its history.
The Social Democratic party headed by Ms.Doi would be social democratic party, since the social democracy is the leading concept.

I mentioned that basic character of the non-party group is the political liberty.I can imagine that those who wish to have political liberty and have such behavior,will regard the liberty as the most important value. It is a matter of course that the non-party group has no unified concept, deriving from its character. But, judging from the fact that some of those who supported a particular party have changed into the nonparty group, the most basic political character is the liberalism, even for the former LDP supporters, or for the supporters of the reforming party (such as Socialist party), I believe.

I do not say that the Communist party and the Social Democratic party deny the liberty.Rather, these parties, sticking to the issue of liberty, played a certain role, I admit. For example, these parties have been supporting those who fought for the incident of false accusation caused by the Japanese police or prosecutor's character of neglecting human right. This was what Japanese liberalists should not forget.
It is necessary to have certain organization to have fight for the liberty, but Japanese liberalists had not such organization, and they had no alternatives to rely upon the Socialist party and the Communist party.

Liberalism as a political thought

The liberalism, or liberty which I have been discussing is the concept with which how the Japanese politics should be guided, and in orderly way.Namely, that is liberalism as political value.To make a political order with the concept of liberalism or liberty, is refereed to as liberalism politically. The thought in which the above mentioned way will not build a good or ideal order without national or social management or control or regulation, is communism or socialism,or social democracy. I do not agree with the said thought, but I do not deny the said thought. It would be very natural that since almost half countries in Europe have the administrations with the leading concept of social democracy, there are such people as support the said thought even in Japan against the liberalism.

The thought opposing the liberalism is not only socialism. Among the LDP and the conservative group, there are many people who are opposing the liberalism. They can be called as nationalistic totalitarianism. I have seen this kind of people. As there are many in the LDP, they are not conspicuous to the eyes of the general public. But I often felt something different from them. The way to find out this kind of people is simple. They generally say that indeed the freedom is important, but excessive freedom is not allowed, and that some regulation is needed, while insisting the restraint or control of freedom which they already admitted.
The liberalism is the political thought in which good order is not build by way of national or social management or regulation or control, but by way of people's free action based on the rule stipulated by the government or society.
The political thought is the principle on which a problem, if any, is settled.

Even if a problem occurs by way of people's free action, the problem would be solved by way of regulation or restraint of the freedom.These idea is totally different from the liberalism.

The liberalism does not allow competition or action not based on the rule from the beginning, admitting that free action and competition based on certain rule. But,if the rule accompanies many limitations, this does not mean the liberalism. There are lot of such things among the system or structure which government officials created.
As long as the liberalistic way is determined to be adopted, even if there occurs a slight problem or disorder, only liberalistic settlement is recommended if such settlement does not violate the originally set rule stipulated for the purpose of establishing the fair system or competition.
The liberalism is thought in which,we believe and observe, it has such force that a good thing is to be destroying a bad thing.

There is no one who denies the freedom or the liberty.
But to control or guide one nation or one society based on the concept of freedom or liberty is totally different from the foregoing matter. The liberalism is the thought in which a good order is to be made by way of guaranteeing free action based on the set rule, with reliance on members of the nation or the society,and in which otherwise good order will not be created.The liberalist will not deny friction or disorder to some extent, deriving from the original meaning of liberty. This is symbolized by the free competition, key word of liberalism.The liberalist has the belief that the liberalism has power to override a friction,conflict,or disorder, which is more excellent than the regulation or the limitation to be set by the government officials or politicians.

Those who seek liberty in the above manner,are to have above way of thinking or feeling, I guess.If they were not such people, they would be irresponsible persons who do not care other's freedom, as a result, admitting the anarchy society. As I have seen the people for a half century,I do not believe that those who seek for the liberty are anarchy people. As far as I am concerned, I put reliance on them, or rather I have to put reliance on them.

6.Why the liberals are main stream in the 21st century?

What is the liberal?

As I have discussed from various angles, it is obvious that political concept or political value which Japanese people are really seeking is liberalism. This is politically true, even if people do not know or be aware of the word of liberals.Let me define the word liberal, or liberalism again. That is to say, the liberalism is the doctrine of freedom, putting importance on social justice, or otherwise, having the safety net neatly.
If I classify the modern doctrine of freedom, one is to put importance on the social justice or safety net, the other is not to put importance on them. The former is called as liberal or liberalism, the latter is called as new-conservatism. It is very true that both are liberalism basically. Whether to advocate the liberal liberalism or to advocate another liberalism called new-conservatism will be determined,depending upon situation of the society.

When the social justice and safety net which the liberals advocate are exaggerated, such situation might not be called as liberalism. The former British political situation called as British disease might be such example. Under the circumstance,the former Prime Minister Thatcher carried out the reformation of the Britain, hoisting a flag of new-conservatism courageously.
In the United States, the President Reagan challenged to reform the United States, hoisting the flag of new-conservatism, just after the long recession when idle social tendency called as liberalism existed. These two reformation of new-conservatism were successful, I believe.

In Japan there appeared persons who advocate the way of thinking resembling the new-conservatism. I believe that in Japan the move of new-conservatism is not needed yet,and historically speaking Japanese liberalism has not gotten ripe.

In Japan, the factors which hinder the spread of liberalism are the problem located before the completion of liberalism.
The social justice and the safety net which the liberals insisted was implemented in order to settle the problems which deregulation has brought about. The various issues which were argued in Japan have the point which has never deregulated or liberalized before. Once the deregulation or liberalization is made, what kind of safety net will be needed will become clear. And it is the subject of new-conservatism which handles the review of excessive safety net.

The challenge of liberalist

In 1994-95, when the word liberal is spread in the Japanese political world,Mr.Yokomichi, Governor of Hokkaido, mentioned in the some TV program, that political concept putting emphasis on the social justice and equality was called as liberal in the US and as social democracy in Europe. At that time, he was anticipated as the Savior of the Socialist Party. I was disappointed to hear that, making comment that even the so-called 'hope of the Socialist Party' has this kind of poor recognition. In Europe, and the United States, the liberalist fought with the classical liberalist and thus created liberal system. These people are fighting-liberalists.

It is unavoidable that deregulating policies or the doctrine of the freedom, would bring about the unequally,deriving from its original character. That is to some extent unavoidable.Most people seeking for the freedom considers the inequality as unavoidable. But,in contrast, the liberalist fought to improve this matter. The people of the doctrine of freedom with whom the liberalists are confronted are called classical liberalist. The liberalist called them as conservatists.The assertion to amend the excessive liberal system is refereed to as new-conservatism, deriving from the above history.

Why did the liberalist challenge to improve the inequality as the essential contradiction of the concept seeking for the freedom? Of course,this might derive just from the sense of justice.But,if so,they have to give up the liberalism.
The reason why the liberalist takes the social inequality as an important matter, is because they have strong sense of crisis so that without doing so, the liberalism would be dead .

Even if the people do not deny the doctrine of freedom, too much existence of social inequality will risk the existence of liberalism politically.
The theme or assignment of the liberalist is, how should a liberalist cope with inequality being the essential contradiction of the liberalism,so as not to cause the social injustice, while observing the principle of liberalism. But here is an important point that the liberalist doesn't deny the doctrine of freedom.Or rather, they are ardent liberalist.
Because they are ardent liberalists, they do not oversee social injustice or inequality which might lead to the political collapse of the liberalism. Without understanding this point, liberalism would become equal with social democracy,just like Mr.Yokomichi's understanding.

It is not easy matter to disperse the sense of injustice or inequality being the essential contradiction of liberalism, without denying the doctrine of freedom. Or rather, that is a difficult matter. But the liberalist courageously challenge this difficult problem. And that was possible to be implemented. Why could the liberalist solve this problem which socialists or communists regard as impossible or hypocrite?

This is because there are many supporters of liberalism in each country.This is fundamentally the same even now.
The liberalist should not forget the caution that doubt or opposition against the regime of liberalism will erupt any time, if the liberalist disregards the essential contradiction of liberalism even if there is the help of the collapse of the USSR.

Why is the political concept, liberalism prevailing at the beginning of the 21st century?

I believe that the leading political concept in Japan will be liberalism for the 10-15years at the beginning of the 21st century. That will come true. This is because deregulation has not been made in many fields in Japan. Political assignment in Japan from now is the deregulation of many fields. The opposite side of this matter is that there is not freedom in Japan politically, economically, and socially. In fact, there are many limitation, regulation, social practice which hinder the freedom. But it should be admitted that these things hinder the inequality which will be brought about as a result of free competition. It would be unavoidable that to expedite the deregulation will make this kind of inequality conspicuous.

Let me repeat that liberal way of thinking is to expedite the deregulation while avoiding injustice or inequality socially not admittable. Our deregulating policies will be implemented in the combination of such amendment. This is the fundamental consensus of the people, I believe. For instance, the pay-off system is one example, which protects the deposit or life insurance up to 10million Yen, even if financial institutions or insurance companies went down to bankruptcy.

It is wrong that because of the existence of this mind, government officials wish not to abolish the regulation and limitation. Japan has to deregulate all the system in every field. We have to consider that deregulation should be expedited, while certain kind of safety net should be build.
At a glance, these are very similar. But they are totally different from the current regulation and limitation. This is the point we have to discern clearly.

The order of our country which was protected by potent regulation or limitation by government officials or Japanese custom and social practice will unavoidably experience friction and disorder to some extent. By foreseeing these things,non-liberalists, will oppose the deregulation, although I donut say they are totalitarian at the left or right side. People have to fight with these people. But we have to bear in mind that there is no other way to settle the various problems at a deadlock, other than to courageously expedite the deregulation in every field.

It is because people obtained substantial freedom based on the new constitution that our country attained miraculous rehabilitation, after Japan was defeated by the Second World War and lost everything. The people who obtained the freedom had a vigorous action and made new things.
For our country to develop continuously in the 21 century, there is no other way than to rely upon the talent, vigor,and the wisdom of the people. The liberalists are neither anarchists nor irresponsible politicians. We are statesmen who believe in the principle of liberalism relied upon in the light of human history. It is liberal statesmen who rely upon the talent, vigor and wisdom of the people

I do not say that every people has liberal political recognition. I do not deny various political thought.And I affirm such existence. But, I believe that 60-70% of the people have liberal political value, or recognition. Even if people have not definite awareness of such value, analysis of the behavior of the people do not deny this fact.
I wish to see what kind of political behavior do persons of liberal political concept and political value have.

7. The political behavior at the Liberal

Two incidents made liberals give up the support of LDP

It is an undeniable rigid fact that almost all the supporters of liberalism have been supporting the LDP under the regime of 1955. This is because the parties other than LDP have leading concept of doctrine other than liberalism. But whether the LDP has been royal to the liberalism or not is another matter. It is certain that there is no alternative than to support the LDP, as there was no other liberal parties, even if the LDP has not been royal to liberalism very exactly.

The collapse of the cold-war system changed the situation completely. The dissolution of the LDP taking place around that time expedited the change.And the relationship between the political sense or the value and supporting political party is very much complicated.Of course,mismatching existed.
Let me take up the LDP. There has been rigid stream of liberalism in this party in the long history. Therefore it is fact that there have been lot of supporters of LDP. This is the legacy of the LDP. But there occurred a big change for a short while.

One of them is LDP's coalition with the Komeito. It is often said that the coalition with Komeito made the LDP lose the votes of religious organizations. This is not only true, but that is not all. As the coalition made the LDP appear as not liberal, the LDP lost the supporters who are anticipating something liberal.

The other of them is Mr.Kato's recent challenge. Mr.Kato has been regarded as the head and the representative of liberal group of the LDP,regardless of his awareness of that matter. I believe that that is not big miss-recognition. Mr.Kato's revolt was the revolt of liberals of LDP.The LDP which subdued Mr.Kato's challenge was received with disappointment and was given up by the supporters of LDP anticipating something liberal.
This change would be confirmed in the the upper house election of 2001. I expect that that is by far bigger than the most members of LDP expected. Instead,the mismatch existed between LDP and the voters seeking for liberals has vanished.

The Liberal Party and the Democratic Party and the liberal

As to Liberal Party,it is obvious from the name of the party and Mr.Ozawa's assertion, this party is supported by the people with the doctrine of freedom. But I do not feel that this party has been supported by the liberals, although I do not say that there is no one.
As the liberals cannot admit the fact that it is Mr.Ozawa who first allied with the Komeito, this is a big cause for such phenomenon.

The Democratic Party was one which Mr.Yukio Hatoyama and Mr.Naoto Kan organized and made famous. At least the concept which Mr.Hatoyama and Mr.Kan mentioned has something liberal.
In fact, because of this, supporters who like liberals shifted from the LDP to the Democratic Party. Nevertheless, when the ex-Democratic Party was organized, ex-Socialist Party members participated, and when the current Democratic Party was made, ex-New Frontier party members participated. This made the character of this party complicated. That the supporters who like liberals did not shift to this party was attributed to such bith.

Recently, there was argument between Mr.Hatoyama,the Head and Mr.Yokomichi, the deputy head, concerning the rights of collective self-defense.This impressed the people that this party has still something like ex-Socialist Party, although the argument does not matter here. It is certain that this party has members tending toward liberals and other members not tending toward liberals. Although the liberal group formed a main stream of this party,there is a big barrier to become a purely conservative or liberal party, because of its character depending upon labor unions in the election campaigns. This is a key problem, and assignment of this party.

I believe that it is almost negligible that supporters tending toward liberals support the Komeito. I also believe that the Communist Party receives the votes of liberals slightly. This is because those who criticize the LDP as not liberal cast their votes to the party. It might be true that the Social Democratic Party receives the votes criticizing the LDP likewise. Because of the conflict for the human rights, supporters tending toward liberals shifted to the both parties.

The difference between non-party group and the indifferent toward politics

At the opinion poll, 50% of the people say that they have no particular party to vote.Generally speaking, these people are called non-party group or layers of people not having particular party.And these people call themselves as non-party group. The word of non-party group began to be used 10 years ago,not being the old word.Before that time, they were called as layers of people indifferent toward politics. And their votes are called as floating votes.

I have been opposing the way of naming in which about 50% of the poll saying that having no particular political party are named as non-party group. Among the people, who have non-particular political party, there are many who are indifferent toward politics, unwilling to go to voting at the election. On the other hand,there are many who go to election, being interested in the politics, but not having particular political party. ( Some of them are more interested in politics than those having particular political party.) They are in the poll classified the same as those having no particular political party. Historically, those are called as non-party group.

Those who are almost indifferent toward politics and scarcely go to voting are called as the indifferent. They are different from non-party group. Then, how many percentage are the indifferent, and how about non-party group, among those having no particular political group.

Professional commentators might explain variously, but the indifferent is not the absolute one, because they sometime go to voting, depending upon the situation of the election.
Accordingly, the discussion of the exact measurement of the percentage is meaningless. In my experience, I believe that more than half of those having no particular political party are non-party group.

Political tendency of non-party group

As I mentioned before, political sense and value of the non-party group is liberal. Besides, their political behavior is very anti-LDP. Most of the non-party group do not feel anything liberal from the LDP. But they also do not feel anything in the political sense or value of the Democratic Party and the Liberal Party.
Therefore, they are existed as non-party group.

With regard to the voting behavior of the non party group, they are tended to vote for the the Democratic Party and the Liberal Party. Because of this reason, the votes obtained by the candidate of the democratic party are estimated as 2 to 3 times as the supporting rate of the Democratic party.
These votes do not go to the Democratic party without fail.
If there is influential candidate, other than the members of LDP, the votes of non-political party will go to such candidate, even if he is not the member of the democratic party. The-nonparty group doesn't stick to the Democratic Party. Therefore, they are non-party group. I believe that the non-party group does not refuse to support the political party. In this respect, if there appeared a party to which non-party group feels something identical with their feeling, such party will grow and become a big force for a short period.
Restructuring of the political world is to try to build a political party to which most people feels identity. To succeed in grasping the identity of the non-political group means to involve the supporters of the current parties. In that sense, it is necessary to watch the political behavior of the non-political group carefully from now onward.

8. Disappointing political vacancy and the assignment of the 21century

Discussion on the preparation of accepting group of the administration

In the NHK program entitled "Sunday Discussion" on air on January7, Chikage Ogi, the head of Conservative party, mentioned that, although the opposition parties were seeking for toppling coalition government of Jikoho, there is not the preparation of accepting group for the administration.
I know Ogi Chikage since she belonged to the LDP. In 1993, when the LDP became the opposition party, she still belong to the LDP. In the LDP's meeting of Headquarters for political reformation, she often said that this LDP would not work. In my memory, she departed from LDP just before the start of the administration of Jishasa.

As this person is an eloquent speaker, coming from Takarazuka, she was propagating the LDP in the various meeting.
In short, only LDP was supposed to have the capability to accept the administration.
Belonging to the ex-Fukuda faction, she could be labeled as a speaking politician for the LDP conservative group. When I heard the above-mentioned statement by Ogi, remembering her graceful figure, I felt something the same. Human being doesn't change, or rather, does not make progress.

While forgetting Ms.Ogi,the most appreciated point of the LDP in the various poll is to have seeming capability to take charge of the administration.The good part of LDP is the ruling party and to have the capability to take charge of the administration. But most people doesn't support the politics of LDP. This is anything but contradiction. That is also a joke, which we cannot laugh.
Why such a thing happen?

Let me mention this way.A party having certain number of members can take charge of the administration in the coalition.
The coalition government of Jikoho taking charge of the administration has not the capability to take charge of the administration in the true sense. In fact, Hosokawa's coalition government could exist. The coalition government of Jishasa continued for a relatively long time. And local
government headed by non-LDP governors existed.Japanese government officials are excellent,haughty,and tricky.
They do not change themselves,or do not give in, while paying respect to the politician and the political party.

What is the true capability to take charge of administration?

Whether one party can really take charge of the administration can be judged by how it can control the government official organization and change the practical governance,in accordance with the political concept hoisted by the party. The LDP has scarcely such ability, although I
do not say there is nothing at all at the party.
This is true because I mentioned that way, based on my long carrier and the experience of Minister in this party.
The most of the politician who are known as being familiar with the policies have expertise as much as an assistant director or a chief of ministries has. They have no ability to point out wrong part of the logic of government official, and let them change them. That is the ability a real statesman is requested to have.

Now, everybody thinks that politics should be changed. People has the power to change the politics.
Without the change of governance through the control of government official organization, the reform of politics which the people wish will not be attained.
For that purpose, the statesman or political party with really excellent talent is needed. The party with some size should have think tank with expertise and talent compared with the organization of government officials.

But these things are not so easy to be made, statesman at the particular office should implement them ardently. When I was at the office of Minister of Home Affairs, I did not have so much expertise on the local governance.
Nevertheless, I implemented several matters. Firstly, I let local governments to freely employ foreign people. Until that time, the Ministry set the limitation on this matter as a natural principle without no legal grounds.

The Ministry of Home Affairs sent its officials to the big local governments. I let them stop sending its officials to the same position continuously so that particular post of the local government is not fixed for the Ministry. When I announced this proposal, Mr.Junichiro Koizumi, the Welfare Minister and Mr.Shizuka Kamei, the Minister of Construction agreed with the proposal,saying that they would do the same. But they did not do the same actually.I implemented this matter without exception.A tiny thing at this level can be done by the strict order of the Minister.

Besides, I fully support prolonging of the voting hours,relaxation of the conditions for the voting of absentee. As a result,current system was implemented and started. Although the LDP hated such step, that is unavoidable for the democracy.
In addition, transfer tax is expanded for the construction of the new trunk line, with a 50% increase of construction expense for the said line.This was fixed through the thorough discussion with the bureau chief of public finance for 3 days. Until that time, this matter had been discussed, but that was not implemented due to the resistance of the officials.

I didn't have so much expertise and experience, but I could do this with the real intention to do something. The minister has competence to do that. If the politician study the governance seriously, and consider as to what should be reformed from the view point of people, politics can change the governance as much as they want.
I believe that real statesman and political party with the capability to take charge of the administration have the above mentioned talent.When in reality, the above mentioned matter is implemented, it is safely said that governance guided by the politics can be performed.

In conclusion, I wish to say one thing. That is the degradation of the government officials. Since the Meiji Restoration, our government officials have done jobs with the mind as if I am the Nation. They designed Japan with their sense of mission, as there has been no real statesman in Japan.The government officials who lead the rehabilitation of Japan in the post war period had that kind of mind.
Around 1979 when I was first elected as a Diet man, there were that kind of officials. Recently, the number of such officials become less. That is also true, since excellent official said so. I have to say clearly that the government officials should reform themselves.

The LDP's coalition with Komeito which Pro.Hirotatsu Fujiwara predicted as Fascism

In1970, Pro.Hirotatsu Fujiwara published a book entitled, "To criticize the Soukagakkai", of which publication was interfered by Sokagakkai infamously.It says as follows:
When the LDP's coalition government with Komeito is formed, that resembles the situation of the era of Nazi Hitler in Germany. Namely,that will work for the stability of the dictatorship in the adherence of Fascism element at the right side in the LDP to an the fanatic element in the Komeito, and also will function as catalyst for leading Japan to Fascism. At that time, Japanese democratic politics, and assembly-based democracy will come to perish. I give caution at this stage so that I need not say that it is too late to prevent such predicament.
Such prediction came true. 30years later, the LDP formed a coalition government with Komeito. And the politician like Mr.Nakasone, ex Prime-Minister, Metropolitan governor, Mr.Ishihara, Mr.Hiromu Nonaka, Mr.Shizuka Kamei, are proud of their positions excessively. Although the LDP was defeated in the election, the coalition government of Jikoho is very stable.
And serious issues staying as pending matter passed the Diet one after another. The situation which Pro.Fujiwara was afraid of is now taking place.I believe, under the circumstance,people have apprehension with the coalition government of Jikoho, and express unsupport of them.

But, in the political world, there are a little number of people who criticize the problem of Komeito's participation into the administration.Mass Media and labor unions do not criticize them, although they think in their mind that it is strange. Why is this taking place? Frankly speaking, they are afraid of Sokagakkai or Komeito. In fact,Sokagakkai, or Komeito, attacks the opponents, or criticizers mercilessly. I myself experienced this attack for these years. On the other hand, Sokagakkai or Komeito takes a pacification policy, with a plenty of fund and big organization. I feel something like Fascism, thus having strong apprehension.

Although people are seeking for the freedom, there appeared the coalition of Jikoho, which Pro.Fujiwara regarded as Fascism,against the wishes of people.
When I think of Japan's politics, this is the most essential matter. Nevertheless, no one can stop the stream of great river which seeks for liberty. Statesmen with love of freedom should act courageously, recognizing such apprehension.

Statesmen should be free from the political party which put them under restraint.

I was raised while watching the Shinano River.When my character has been formed,I have been greatly influenced by the fact that I was watching the No.1 river in Japan.
What the statesman should think seriously is what people think of and seek for. There are numberless way of thinking in the Japanese people counting 127million, but statesmen should know what is the big trend?

The current fundamental concept underlying the political economical and social phenomenon is liberty. No one can stop this flow like the Great River. That should be appreciated.
I myself do not think that people seeking for the freedom have the anarchy and irresponsible action. The people seeking his own freedom thinks highly of the freedom of others.
If this matter is clearly understood,we can manage this country with the principle of liberalism. Of course, there is exception. But we have to see is the mainstream,flow of great river in front of us.

It is national consensus to lead this country with the principle of liberalism. But, are there such party recognizing this principle? In LDP,the Democratic party,and the Liberal party, there are not only liberalists, but also non-liberalists. I believe there is a problem here. Each party should discuss this matter seriously, and meet the expectation of the people. Then, that party will obtain the most of the support of the people.

Political party has its history. One party cannot be created based on pure principle or theory. I believe that is unavoidable to some extent.But politicians should seriously consider that people set themselves aside the political party. The LDP which was supported firstly by the people, lost the support, because of the coalition of Komeito as well as Kato's incident. The people loving the liberty think that the coalition government of Jikoho is formed by the extraordinary persons. That reveals the extremely low supporting ratio of the Cabinet.
As to LDP, even if the reform is carried out, it is difficult to become the party befitting the party's name. Kato's incident made it clear. I do not want to mention the other party. But there is no party which can be reformed and become a party with which people feels identity. In this point here is distrust and despair of the people toward politics. Political parties should have sense of crisis toward themselves.

I believe that the current predicament resembles the end of the Edo Era. Politicians belong to each of the political parties. But, from the view point of political recognition of people in the 21st Century, that is too old and stiff. A little bit reform of the party and faction does not respond to the assignment of the 21st century, and does not conform to the political sense of the people. Wise statesmen are aware of this matter.
When the revolutionists at the end of the Edo Era thought of the future of Japan as a whole, shifting from the viewpoint of its Han (local government), the Meiji Restoration started virtually. Statesmen should think in the same way. This is the only way which let free the political predicament being at a deadlock.

The statesmen with love of liberty should be free from the political party which puts themselves under restraint.
This is the first assignment of politics at the beginning of the 21st Century. I believe that it is the only way, for the statesman to risk his life taking action with royalty to the political concept of liberalism, so as to create hopeful politics for the 21st century.