Japan’s Changing Scene

Politics in Japan operates on consensus, and Noboru Takeshita is the essential consensus politician. Chosen by Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone as the next president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Takeshita has thus automatically moved into position to become Japan’s 17th postwar premier when Nakasone’s term concludes at the end of this month and the Liberal Democrats, in firm control of the parliament, choose his successor.

Takeshita was not the unquestioned choice of his faction-divided colleagues--two other leaders with significant followings also sought the premiership--but his skills as a political tactician and effector of compromise seem sure to make him a popular selection.

Takeshita is known as a hard-working politician. He has served twice as finance minister. But his knowledge of international affairs is limited, and there are those in Japan who suggest that his interest is limited as well. The next two years might thus see Nakasone, considerably experienced in world affairs, playing an important behind-the-scenes role as adviser to the man he picked as his successor.

Everything in Takeshita’s long career--he was first elected to parliament in 1958, at the age of 34--indicates that he will move with great caution as prime minister, acting, as he has put it, as a kind of master of ceremonies in building a consensus behind his policies. At the same time he says that he is committed to pursuing Nakasone’s plan to shift Japan from an export-dependent economy to one where continued strong growth is based on expanded domestic consumption.

Such a transformation seems essential if Japan’s troubling trade frictions--and monumental trade surpluses--with America and other countries are to be reduced. It will be anything but easy, though, to bring about basic change in the face of formidable opposition from powerful special-interest constituencies--farmers most notably. Whatever these political difficulties, a basic reorientation of Japan’s economy is no longer postponable. Nakasone has set the destination. Now it must be seen whether Takeshita can plot the course.