Prime Minister Abe Shinzo delivered a policy speech in the Diet January 20. He, however, did not touch on thorny issues, including his-hosting party to enjoy cherry blossoms and the bribery case over the IR=integrated resort development plan. He referred without any emphasis to the most topical points: amendment of the war-renouncing constitution as well as his zealous commitment to carry out reforms in the public services for all generations. He spent more time in his speech on the Olympic Games, vitalization of local economies and his investment plan on innovation-needed fields.

HOLLOW SCREAM WITHOUT MENTIONING FAILURES AND MISTAKES

Premier Abe, since late last year, has been emphasizing two major duties to be finalized before his tenure ends; amendment of the constitution and reforms on public services for all the generations. His government is ready to present bills to the current Diet session to change pension plans, or, to apply the Kosei-nenkin program, or the employees’ pension program, more broadly and to make others more flexible in terms of benefits of recipients. The government is planned to propose another bills on medical services to the coming extraordinary session to be held in autumn, which is to oblige senior citizens over 75 years old to pay more at the hospitals.

General elections in mind

Premier Abe gave the speech in a short version, using euphemism and choosing cautious rhetoric, saying that ‘I cordially ask you lawmakers to discuss new steps in the medical services for the elderly over 75 years old, some of whom will be required to owe 20% of treatment costs’.

Prime Minister Abe, conscious of dissolution of the Diet during the coming extraordinary session, concealed his real goal of the reforms on public services, which will demand users to pay more as is seen in the healthcare for the elders. He did not elaborate the bills, as he is well ready to cope with a period coming after the general elections. He will produce a social atmosphere, through debates with opposition lawmakers, in which people will admit a mode ‘less amounts of benefits and bigger sum of payments’ and ‘a higher consumption tax rate over 10%’, using mass media. He will launch a campaign ostentatiously to ‘reduce the long-term deficit of 1,100 trillion Yen’ in order to find a breakthrough, beginning with ‘a proportional payment for the elderly’.

Premier told that tax income was the largest as ever and the amount of government bonds recorded a decrease for eight consecutive years. The 2020 budget shows that the biggest tax income source is the consumption tax, which is 1.8 times bigger than the corporate taxes which have been reduced. His remark was absurdly incorrect, as if his government had achieved a feat. Premier did not say anything about the sluggish behaviors of personal consumption due to the increased tax and the lingering deflation trend.

He put inconvenient facts behind: resignation of two key ministers, the cherry blossom viewing party, the IR-related political scandal accompanying arrest of a lawmaker, the going police investigation in suspect of violation of the Public Offices Election Law, and etc. These misconducts should have led to resignation of all cabinet members, if the opposition political parties had been stronger. Premier did not make an apology in the address.

Concerning a dispatch of the Self Defense Forces to Middle East, Premier Abe had made a decision in the cabinet in advance of the legislature’s session, but he did not touch on that. As for diplomatic relations with Republic of Korea, which is the worst since the end of WWII, he simply reiterated to keep promise between the governments though economic costs on tourism and food industries are enormous.

Agonies of Fukushima residents

Premier Abe spent a third of his time on promotion of local economies in the context of the Olympic Games and on backing to develop venture businesses, citing concrete projects and hinting to take advantage of the National Strategic Special Zones. These are certified business-friendly areas where the government implements deregulation rules to spoil safety and environment.

The Olympic torch starts from the J-Village, Fukushima. Premier expressed loudly that ‘smiles of children’ and ‘many visits of foreign tourists to Fukushima’, contemplating to lift the bans imposed on the radio-actively contaminated areas, including highways where transportation by motorcycle is currently prohibited, and to restore railway service of the Joban Line.

The government has terminated its restitution benefits to the affected residents. Anxieties are enormous as they are obliged to return home. Prime Minister does not pay attention at all.

Referring to the previous Games in 1964, he shouted ‘Japan attracted the world’s attention with great emotion’. He continued ‘let’s develop a new era’ in the coming Olympics, adding to say that ‘let’s reform the country to formulate another one through the constitution’. He had a glass of water three times as he apparently felt awkward on the last days of regime. The recent speech was the most flirtatious.

January 28, 2020