Tensions in Japanese Politics: Coal and Korea

Abstract

In recent months, parliamentarism in Japan has once again been afflicted with serious troubles. The extraordinary session of the Diet last December was marked by almost continuous turmoil. One major source of difficulty was the legislation sponsored by the Liberal-Democratic Party relating to the coal-mining industry. Socialist attacks upon this legislation were bitter and unrelenting, resulting in a virtual impasse in the Diet. A second controversy pertained to the field of foreign affairs. Prime Minister Ikeda's attempt to push ahead with the normalization of Japanese-South Korean relations provoked violent Socialist opposition. In general, public reaction to these developments has been to blame the Socialists, whose obstructionist tactics have not enhanced their popularity. Yet an analysis of Japan's current parliamentary problems must encompass a variety of factors in addition to Socialist intemperance. One problem is of an institutional nature, namely, the subordination of the Diet to the Cabinet. Parliamentary supremacy, writ large in the 1947 Constitution, may have been enthroned as Japanese constitutional theory, but it remains to be articulated in practice. Whether the Japanese Diet will ever attain supremacy or even a rough equity with the executive branch of government is doubtful. One cannot ignore a nearly universal trend towards the growing impotence of representative assemblies throughout the world. This impotence is especially apparent if the legislature is viewed as a creative participant in the legislative process. The power of legislatures becomes somewhat more impressive if emphasis is placed upon the veto function the act of approving or disapproving executive policies and programs. Like most legislatures, the Japanese Diet finds its primary function in this role, but it lacks the tradition of authority that might buttress its position. But to -what extent can the Diet veto Cabinet policies, or scrutinize them carefully? The current opposition parties, the Socialists and Democratic Socialists constantly lament the fact that their views are disregarded by a 44tyrannous conservative government. As a result, the minority, especially the Socialists, rationalize the use of any tactics that will obstruct or slow down the Diet machinery. Unable to play a positive role, they constantly seek to enlarge their negative role. The ruling Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP) has enjoyed substantial majorities in both Houses of the Diet in recent years.' Hence, on matters