Japanese editorial excerpts -4-

Japan Policy & Politics, May 2, 2005

TOKYO, April 28 Kyodo

Selected editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

THE FUTURE OF MINSHUTO (IHT/Asahi as translated from the Japanese-language Asahi Shimbun's editorial published April 27)

In Sunday's lower house by-elections for the Fukuoka No. 2 district and the Miyagi No. 2 district, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) lost to LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) candidates who were also endorsed by New Komeito, whose main support base is the lay Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai.

Minshuto, which made huge advances in the upper house election last summer, saw the by-elections as the springboard for its move to seize power in the next lower house election. But those crucial losses last Sunday have effectively ruined this scenario.

Minshuto leader Katsuya Okada said of his party's defeat: ''By-elections are hard for us to win anyway. I wish more voters had taken interest.''

The most urgent issue at the moment is that (Prime Minister Junichiro) Koizumi's Asia diplomacy has proved severely ineffectual. But even this has not galvanized Minshuto.

As Minshuto calls itself ''a party preparing to come into power,'' we see nothing wrong with its focusing on the next lower house election and keeping itself busy writing its official ''manifesto.''

If Okada wants voters' support, he must become enough of a presence to challenge the government and the LDP on day-to-day political issues. Minshuto's future will open up only when this becomes the basis of the party's strategy for seizing power.

Until Koizumi's LDP presidency expires in September next year, two more unified by-elections may take place. Unless Okada snaps out of his inertia or sense of resignation over Minshuto's losing streak in by-elections, the party may have run out of steam by the next lower house election.

(April 28)