A Japan That Won’t Say Yes : Kanemaru scandal shows public may be fed up with political corruption

A most unusual thing happened in Tokyo the other day: Japan’s foremost political powerbroker was toppled, in part by public anger. It was a new face for the normally passive Japanese, who have nonchalantly put up with one political scandal after another. Perhaps they now will demand a clean government.

In the end, the doings of Shin Kanemaru tried everyone’s patience. The 78-year-old politician, who controls the largest and richest faction of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, admitted publicly in August that he had received $4.1 million in illegal campaign contributions from a parcel delivery company with links to Japanese organized crime. But Kanemaru, intending to keep his parliamentary seat, resorted to his well-known back-room politicking to avoid public questioning and a full indictment. He paid a paltry fine of $1,666.

The resulting public furor, demonstrations and media criticism forced Kanemaru to resign not only from Parliament but also as chairman of his party faction, which was founded by former Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita, who himself had to resign in 1989 because of a stock scandal. Kanemaru’s troubles could shake up the ruling LDP. In its 40 years in power it has overseen Japan’s explosive economic growth and development of friendly relations with the United States.

Though his departure is not expected to affect U.S.-Japan ties, it is a blow to current Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, who owes his job to Kanemaru. The prime minister promises to carry out reform, but that could be squeezed in the vise of expected party infighting. Japan’s political system fosters the dominance of a single powerful party that is susceptible to corruption. The Kanemaru affair shows the public might be fed up and won’t take it anymore.