POLITICS-JAPAN: Sacking of Popular Official Bound to Hurt Premier

By Suvendrini Kakuchi Reprint | | Print |

Suvendrini Kakuchi

TOKYO, Jan 30 2002 (IPS) - The forced resignation of Japan’s popular foreign minister, Makiko Tanaka late Tuesday has dealt a blow to the popularity of the current government and dashed the hopes of women aspiring to make a dent in male-dominated politics, say analysts.

“I am bitterly disappointed with the way Koizumi dismissed Tanaka,” says Masako Nattori, a female councillor in the assembly of Hino ward, north of Tokyo. “His decision clearly illustrates how men control Japanese politics.”

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi declared that enough is enough and called a news conference at past 1 a.m. this morning, after speaking to Tanaka.

He said that parliamentary proceedings had been disrupted enough by the feud that Tanaka had with vice foreign minister Yoshiji Nogami and a senior politician, Muneo Suzuki, said to wield influence in the foreign office.

“Diet sessions must go on” without the disturbance caused by the highly public squabble that been stalling parliamentary proceedings, he later told reporters.

Tanaka was sacked along with Nogami. Suzuki, a senior politician in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is expected to step down from his post as chief of the steering committee of the lower house.

Opposition parties have closely questioned the conflict between the three in the past two days in Diet sessions, taking attention away from the debate over the budget.

Koizumi said he felt responsible for failing to solve the problem that began when Tanaka alleged that Suzuki was behind a decision taken by Nogami to not allow two non-government groups to take part in last week’s international donors’ conference here on Afghanistan.

The NGOs were later allowed to attend the final session as observers, after Tanaka ordered the foreign ministry to change its decision.

Suzuki is also reported to have become angry with Kensuke Onishi, head of Peace Winds, one of the NGOs involved in the controversy, when he said that he “cannot trust the government”.

But Suzuki denies Tanaka’s allegations. Soon, a high-profile battle was underway in the Diet (Parliament) on who between Tanaka or Suzuki was right or wrong.

Tanaka is not seen as the best of diplomats, and has been repeatedly criticised for making unwise comments that have upset Japanese diplomats.

In December, she said the issue of Taiwan’s sovereignty would be resolved peacefully as in the case of Hong Kong, a remark that ruffled feathers because it was perceived as siding with Beijing despite Japan’s one-China policy. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province.

Despite what have been called her missteps, the daughter of one of Japan’s most powerful former prime ministers, Kakuei Tanaka, remains popular with the public.

“I know Tanaka can be too outspoken, but I like her because she was trying to reform bureaucrats who control Japan too much. I, for one, will not support Koizumi anymore,” remarks Shigeru Nishimura, a 49-year- old father of three and a restaurant manager.

Tanaka declared war on Foreign Ministry bureaucrats when she took the position as foreign minister in the new Cabinet nine months ago.

In her typical outspoken style, she created enemies when she ordered changes among top bureaucrats and pledged to reform corrupt practices in the scandal-ridden ministry.

Her steps were not supported by some influential politicians, who were angered with the way she was challenging deeply ingrained practices that were focused on maintaining harmony in the political system.

Her tough stance, however, enhanced her public support. In fact, her popularity is considered to make up a large part of Koizumi’s current 72 percent approval rates.

Koizumi, himself under pressure as he tries to undertake crucial reforms across the nation, seems to be aware of the political risk he faces after his decision to dump Tanaka. “I think there will be an impact,” he told reporters Tuesday night.

Reports say that in a bid to shore up his popularity, he is urging the highly respected former U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees,. Sadako Ogata, to take over Tanaka’s position.

“Ogata is capable and well-known internationally. It will certainly help Koizumi if she agrees (to assume the post),” points out Minoru Tada, a political commentator.

But women activists are not happy with this move by the prime minister. “Koizumi is trying to smooth things over in the old political style by asking Ogata, and this is not good for Japan. This is not what women want,” explains Nattori.

Female ministers have also taken Koizumi to task for remarks he made Friday, while addressing questions about Tanaka being driven to tears because of her feud with Suzuki and Nogami.

“Tears are a woman’s greatest weapons. When women cry, men cannot compete with them,” Koizumi told reporters

That comment drew the ire of 18 multi-party female Diet members, who are demanding the premier withdraw his comment that they call sexist.

Toshiko Honda, spokeswoman for the League of Women Voters of Japan, says the ditching of Tanaka underscores even more the daunting political scene women face.

Explains Honda, “Women aspiring to be politicians face the double obstacles of social pressure that expects women to be good homemakers, and a male-dominated Diet that leans heavily toward men’s opinions.”

Nattori, who is seeking a second term as an independent councillor in Hino in February, says the only way women politicians can fight back is to avoid aligning themselves with any party that is heavily populated with men.