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Japan's Zombie Politics: A Tragedy in Four Parts

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Despite the struggling of the current Abe government has recently attracted much public interest, the need for critical analysis of the preceding era of the Koizumi administration has not disappeared. The years under the Koizumi Cabinets have certainly contributed to significant changes in Japanese politics, be it through the SDF's dispatch to Iraq, or the heavy-handed privatization of Japan Post. Fujiwara Hajime's "Japan's Zombie Politics" offers a fresh and unconventional view of the modern Japanese Politics thus explaining the various behind-the-scenes variables having an unexpected effects on the initial decision-making process.

The author has engrossed in a topic with passion which in places leads to a use of extreme vocabulary. These seemingly unnecessary excesses do not, however, strip away the main contribution of the book. Open, extensive and critical discussion regarding the contemporary Japanese politics needs openings that are ready to challenge deep-rooted conventions. Despite few flaws in the style and argumentation, Fujiwara's contribution as an opener of discussion is noticeable.

When one thinks of Japan, more often than not, it conjures up the image of a strong, powerful and stable industrialised nation. This book brings to light however, many of the unknown behind-the-scenes political plots, hidden scandals, and an extensive outline of political Japanese family history. It is perhaps the first book of its kind to so concisely and chronologically follow the dark inner-workings of a perceived smooth journey to where Japan stands proud today.

The book reads like a Tolstoy novel with so the introduction of many characters that cause much confusion to an English-reading audience due to the multitude of unfamiliar Japanese names. However, the juicy scandalous stories unravel one by one, as the plot thickens and the reader is left shocked and engaged by the continuous turn of events.

Dr. Fujiwara's opinions and disdain for Prime Minister Koizumi (who was still in power at the time of publication) and others in the Japanese administration are by no means subtle throughout the book. In fact one might say that some of his character analyses of Japanese politicians are bordering at times, on emotional. Given Dr. Fujiwara's extensive career as a political commentator anymand free-lance writer, the book exposes many insider facts and secrets that no one knows or has written about Japan--and therefore results in a valuable contribution for its honest, in-depth and insightful information on Japanese politics.

Dr. Hajime Fujiwara offers his personal overview of the Koizumi Cabinets and criticizes their role in declining contemporary Japanese politics. The book details from a bystander's point of view the behind-the-scenes variables that help to explain the changes in recent Japanese politics. For example, party inbreeding and apparent alliances between large private companies and the government are discussed openly. Using provocative words at times, the author shows his passion for Japan and his disappointment in Japanese politicians not meeting his ideals for a greater Japan. He calls for more broadly educated politicians. His analysis illustrates that when you go beyond the appearances, the conventional story is different. Overall, the book is highly informative of modern Japan to a non-Japanese reader. It reads like a thriller. More, it provides food for thought in discussions about the effects of ultraconservative politics on ordinary citizens.

Fujiwara gives a shrill denunciation of Japan's years of stagnation. Where the zombies were large private companies that received lucrative government contracts. These usually involved public construction projects, like regional airports, bridges and [sic] animal highways for foxes. Often, there was suspicion of close "affiliation" between politicians pushing these projects and the zombie companies that obtained those contracts.

The author also detests the recent previous prime minister, Koizumi. Comparing him to a dictator who took power in a coup. Words like psychopath and neo-fascism are generously tossed about. To a non-Japanese reader, it can be an amusing read. The author does not pretend in the least to any objectivity in his loathing of Koizumi and his supporters. The author terms Koizumi's administration as a Yasukuni Restoration. Which refers to the war shrine contained the remains of several executed war criminals (like Tojo). Koizumi's repeated visits to Yasukuni were considered emblematic of his supposed desires for militarism and neo-nationalism. Though, to be sure, those visits were severely criticised in other Asian countries as setting a bad tone for relations.

The book was written in 2005, when Koizumi was still prime minister.

By the way, when I wrote "shrill and unbalanced", I was referring to the book and not the author. I will not call the author a paranoid lunatic or a cretin. I will not use these words.