Japan Applauds Premier’s First Talk to Nation

Voters, economists and political analysts gave Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi generally high marks Monday for his first address to the nation, in which he outlined his vision of a Japan that would address problems head-on, be more open and stop wasting money on ill-conceived public works projects.

“I want to establish an economic and social system suitable for the 21st century,” the 59-year-old Koizumi said. In a speech laced with the word “reform,” he also vowed to fight special interests.

Still, many questioned how their new leader, who rode into office April 26 on a grass-roots call for change, can achieve his ambitious goals with an election looming and adversaries across the political spectrum--including within his own Liberal Democratic Party--watching his every move.

“He cannot afford to be timid,” said Takashi Kiuchi, an economic advisor with Shinsei Bank. “The opposition within and outside the LDP is watching very carefully for him to make a misstep.”

The speech broke little new ground, and many of the ideas were outlined during Koizumi’s recent campaign to head the LDP. His remarks were short on specifics.

Still, the fact that he repeated his reform pledges after taking power set a benchmark that will make backsliding more difficult.

“We can’t say he put much flesh on the bones, but that wasn’t really his purpose,” said Garry Evans, a strategist with HSBC Securities. “And just using the term ‘vested interests’ is significant. It’s not a term you often hear in Japan.”

Koizumi called for the direct election of Japan’s prime minister, a better social safety net to help the elderly and unemployed, and privatization of the nation’s postal savings system.

On the foreign policy front, he reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Japan relationship even as he vowed to improve relations with China and both North and South Korea.

What was perhaps most striking about the speech was his obvious effort to go over the heads of party hacks and extend a hand to voters at large. His speech was about half as long as those commonly given by his unpopular predecessor, Yoshiro Mori.

In a series of populist touches, he called for town meetings, gestured when making key points and vowed to publish letters from the public and to visit all 47 prefectures, or administrative districts, within the next six months.

While such things amount to common sense in the United States, they stood out in a country where politicians frequently rise to the top without charisma or much popular appeal.

“He came across very well, used direct language and projected an image of honesty and sincerity,” said Yasuko Tokuda, chairwoman of the Japan Image Consulting Assn. “We haven’t really seen that with past prime ministers.”

Koizumi also reached out to women, who make up half of the Japanese population but whose interests have often taken a back seat. He cited his appointment of five women to his Cabinet and vowed to improve the day-care system to take into account the difficulties women face juggling career and family.

“I think it’s great. I appreciate that he focused on the nursery school issue,” said Mariko Mitsui, a women’s rights activist and a professor at Hosei University. “It shows women can start to change the very thick wall of Japanese tradition.”

Koizumi’s direct appeal to the Japanese public is driven by a strategic calculation. While his early popularity rating of 87% is close to a postwar record, success in Japan traditionally depends on garnering the support of party heavyweights. Koizumi needs to keep public pressure on the party bosses if he wants to get anything done.

“If he loses his public support, he loses his power in the LDP,” said James Malcolm, an economist with J. P. Morgan.

Koizumi also has little time to produce results, given the upper house election set for July 28, which may have added to his preference for broad generalities over specifics.

“It’s good public relations to say ‘I am close to you’ and ‘I will listen to you,’ ” said Junji Ota, an analyst with Okasan Securities. “But I doubt he’ll actually reflect people’s views in his policy.”

In a nation battered by corruption scandals, economic mismanagement and a parade of political leaders over the past decade, Koizumi’s unconventional approach and straight talk have reduced some of the cynicism many Japanese people feel toward their political leaders. But he will have to keep up a blistering reform pace or risk a backlash.

“He says he’ll reform education. But politicians always say that, and none are ever successful,” said Etsuko Fuji, 57, an employee at an education consulting company. “People are fed up with the LDP already. Unless he’s drastic, how can Koizumi really promote change from within the LDP?”

Rie Sasaki of The Times’ Tokyo Bureau contributed to this report.