As of current, there’s Japanese lower house of representative election campaign period ( The actual vote day is on the 31st October 2021 ). A snap election was called by House of Representatives was dissolved last month and the ( former ) prime minister of Japan, Suga from LDP is resigned previous month. This election includes a national proportional representation block as well as the residential local block.
Japanese political system is structured as a bicameral National Assembly. The members of the two chambers ( House of Representatives, House of Councilors ) are elected or selected by different methods. This can often lead to the two chambers having very different compositions of members. ( Bicameral system are taken by various countries ( I.e.: France, Germany, Italy, Russia, and America ) ).
Election campaign likely shows unique individual style by the candidates and parties. Especially in Japan has a various activities to be seen and eye-candy in the public. These days are approaching in visual entertainment through SNS streaming strategy and music entertainment ( DJ and live music as a festival ) become main stream style too. Still, street speaking style and meet greet to have a conversation with people on streets seems the most common style.
There’s also using a volunteer to make telephone calls another popular style. This globally award winning documentary film, “Campaign” ( 2007 : Sydney Film Festival, The 57th Berlin International Film Festival Official Film ) presents the contradiction of ironic old fashion style of revolution and actual facts of real life today through the unique campaign style in Japan.
Documentary Film : “Campaign “ by Kazuhiro Soda ( 2007 )
The candidates are required to pay large sum of money for entry in Japanese elections therefore that is likely another reasons why election seems always “politics seems different world” from the general public to percipient. Average of voting ratios in Japan is 50 percent.
This current campaign seems focused on the agenda of “Covid economic recovery “, “welfare”, and “Tax system ( I.e. debate on the decrease or increase the consumption TAX )”.
There’s a sharp unique perspective on the tax and economy recovery in Covid is an another trigger and shows the fiscal evidence of Japan consumer Tax in last 25years which brought only the deflation. Olympic Games and economy high rise illuminated the actual deflation, poverty, and welfare issues. Taro Yamamoto, a former actor and current leader of one of the national political party has been pursuing the agenda and policies for almost the start of the politics career. His original motive was nuclear accident in Fukushima 311. The Belgium made documentary film, “Beyond the waves” ( 2017, produced by Sophimages ) is about his early political career including his house of councilor member years and the film explains well from the foreign perspective of the production. As a film itself has a profound cinematography and beautiful piece of visual work to view the scenery of contemporary Japan.
Documentary film : Beyond the waves ( 2017 )
It is of course one’s free will to choose a party and who to run their country. Therefore especially in Japan considering the low rate of vote and the long term economic recession, it needs to be aware that as general citizens are the ownerships. I personally rather see the kind, supportive firm government and community to build bring better for citizens. It goes to sustainability, good education, and “quality Lifestyle”. It’s a social responsibility as an individual fundamentally and exciting event to go vote, choose attentively, and follow to.
