Reformer Undermines Reformer - Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan - Brief Article

International Economy, The, May, 2001

Since the election of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the western media have emphasized the new leader's historic role as a great reformer within the Japanese political system. Yet Tokyo insiders point out that Koizumi is a significantly more complicated political animal than the simplistic media descriptions suggest.

It was only a few years ago, they point out, that Koichi Karo emerged as the great reformer within the LDP but found himself all but trampled to death politically by faction leader Yoshiro Mori, who went on to become prime minister. And who was Mori's number one hatchetman? The lieutenant who inflicted on Kato the greatest political damage? Hint: He just became prime minister of Japan, himselfi As one Tokyo political analyst put it, "Koizumi can teach it round, or he can teach it flat."