Political Reform Reconsidered : The Trajectory of a Transformed Japanese State

This Open Access book provides a comprehensive analysis of political reforms in Japan since the 1990s, emphasizing the role of ideas in shaping their goals and outcomes. For more than fifteen years following the collapse of Japan’s economic bubble, politicians, business people and academics tackled a range of institutional reforms. The sweeping changes they enacted―covering almost all facets of the public sphere, including elections, public administration, courts and the central bank―fundamentally altered Japanese political processes and policies. Taken together, they arguably represent the final touches of Japan’s political modernization, which had been unfolding since the mid-19 th century. Throughout the reform process, advocates were inspired by a combination of liberal and modernist ideas. This book examines those guiding concepts and illustrates the often messy process of applying them to real-world institutions. While most reforms began from common goals, they ultimately produced different―and frequently unexpected―institutional outcomes, which continue to shape Japanese politics. By focusing on the relationship between the ideas and processes that shaped Japan’s reforms, this book presents a broad vision of institutional change in comparative politics. Preface to the English Edition Preface to the Original Japanese Edition Acknowledgments Contents Author and Translator Chapter 1: Perspectives on Political Reform 1 The Path to Political Reform The Bubble as Precursor Strengthening Satisfaction with the Status Quo 1989 as a Turning Point 2 How Has Political Reform Been Represented? Growing Momentum for Reform Unsettled Evaluation Previous Explanations Remaining Questions 3 This Book ́s Approach ``Ideas ́ ́ and Their ``Localization ́ ́ What We Think Was Happening Why Did Reform Happen This Way? Notable Points and the Structure of the Book Chapter 2: An Overview of Political Reform 1 What Is Political Reform? De Facto Constitutional Revision Classification of Domains 2 Central Government Reform Electoral Reform Strengthening the Cabinet The Reorganization of Ministries and Agencies 3 Reforms Outside of the Central Government Central Bank and Judiciary Reform Decentralization Reform 4 The Project of the Liberal Modernist From ``Object ́ ́ to ``Subject ́ ́ of Politics Modernism in Postwar Japan Liberalism, Communism, Conservatism The Relationship with Party Politics Who Is the Liberal Modernist? The Localization of Reforms and the Rise of Domain Autonomy Chapter 3: Electoral Reform 1 Background of Reform Why Is the Electoral System Important? The Electoral System and Policy The Problem of the Medium-Sized Electoral District System Issues That Should Be Addressed 2 Toward the Modernization of Politics Multiple Directions Choice of Philosophy Based on the ``Outline for Political Reform ́ ́ Complementary Logic 3 The Localization of the Parallel Single-Member District-Proportional Representation Electoral System Concrete Choices Forming a Majority Kanemaru ́s Arrest as the Decisive Step Did Voters Agree? 4 What Happened? Expected Consequences Development as Expected Some Important Unanticipated Consequences Lack of Interest in Linkages Chapter 4: Administrative Reform 1 The Background of Reform The Emergence of the Administrative State Administrative Reform as an Issue 2 What Was the True Aim? The Emergence of a New Direction Administrative Reform as Part of Political Reform Between ``Small Government ́ ́ and ``Strong Government ́ ́ 3 Reorganizing Ministries as a Means of Localization In the Vortex of Inter-party Competition The Effective ``Preservation ́ ́ of the Strengthening of Cabinet Functions 4 What Happened? The Decisive Effects of Strengthening Cabinet Functions The Apparent Arrival of ``Small Government ́ ́ Chapter 5: Reform of the Bank of Japan and Ministry of Finance 1 The Background of Reform The Role of the Central Bank The Bank of Japan Act as Wartime Legislation Scandals in the Ministry of Finance and the Financial Sector 2 Two Directions Global Trends The Central Bank Study Group Putting Ministry of Finance Reform on the Agenda Formation of a Reform Proposal 3 Which Was the ``Core ́ ́? Localization as Administrative Reform The Idea of ``Open Independence ́ ́ Survives 4 What Happened? The Bank of Japan Strengthens Its Independence The Declining Influence of the Ministry of Finance A New Coordination System? Chapter 6: Reform of the Judicial System 1 The Background for Reform What Is Judicial Independence? Insulation from Society 2 Clear Directionality Expanding Points of Contact with Society Greater Autonomy from the Executive and Legislative Branches Research and the Exploration of Options by the Supreme Court 3 Reform by Consensus The Road to the Establishment of the Advisory Council Judicial System Reform Council The Reality of Institutional Reform 4 Localization After Institutional Change Difficulties in the Implementation Stage A Return to Expertise Chapter 7: Decentralization Reforms 1 Background of Reform What Is Decentralization? What Was Being Sought? Recognized Challenges 2 A New Rationale Increased Attention on Responsiveness Different Ways of Thinking 3 Beyond Approving General Arguments and Opposing Specific Arguments Penetrating the Heart of Government Three Directions Characteristics of Majority Formation 4 What Happened? Anticipated Consequences Capacity Issues for Local Governments Coordination Problems Between Central and Local Governments Chapter 8: Is Reform Finished? 1 Far-Reaching and Large-Scale Reforms Consistency in Ideas What Underpinned Heisei Democracy 2 The Problem of Inconsistency and Noncommitment The Various Consequences of Localization Inconsistencies in the Multilevel Mixture The Impact of Areas Not Addressed 3 Is Reform No Longer Necessary? Reform Fatigue and Excessive Criticism Towards a New Era Translator ́s Afterword Appendix: Chronology of Relevant Political History (1985-2014) Publisher ́s Notes References Index This Open Access book provides a comprehensive analysis of political reforms in Japan since the 1990s, emphasizing the role of ideas in shaping their goals and outcomes. For more than fifteen years following the collapse of Japan's economic bubble, politicians, business people and academics tackled a range of institutional reforms. The sweeping changes they enacted -- covering almost all facets of the public sphere, including elections, public administration, courts and the central bank-- fundamentally altered Japanese political processes and policies. Taken together, they arguably represent the final touches of Japan's political modernization, which had been unfolding since the mid-19th century. Throughout the reform process, advocates were inspired by a combination of liberal and modernist ideas. This book examines those guiding concepts and illustrates the often messy process of applying them to real-world institutions. While most reforms began from common goals, they ultimately produced different "and frequently unexpected" institutional outcomes, which continue to shape Japanese politics. By focusing on the relationship between the ideas and processes that shaped Japan's reforms, this book presents a broad vision of institutional change in comparative politics. The author of the book Satoshi Machidori is professor of political science at the Graduate School of Law, Kyoto University. The translator and author of the afterword, Tobias S. Harris is Deputy Director of the Asia Program at German Marshall Fund of the United States