Is Diversity Coming to Japanese Politics to Penetrate Throughout the Nation?

Tuesday, September 1, 2009 - Osaka, Japan

What Japanese media named “Ozawa Girls” (vs. “Koizumi Children” in the previous election) played an important role in the DPJ’s historic victory in the general election held on August 30. This seems to imply that diversity is coming into Japanese political world at last, which may have positive impact on Japan, to drive diversity throughout the nation.

The main player of the DPJ’s strategy were “Ozawa Girls”, are new female candidates, mostly in 30s, allocated as rival candidates of LDP veterans with the intention of Mr. Ozawa, the former DPJ representative. They are mostly of younger generation compared to “Koizumi Children”. Quite a few already have been engaged in social activities, including an candidate who had been a serious advocate in solving a medical/healthcare issue from her own experience, herself suffering from a disease.

The DPJ’s strategy was a big success. The mass media and the general public were extremely attentive to “Ozawa Girls” although they were absolutely new with no experience nor achievement in the political world. The strategy also forced LDP veteran candidates to focus on their own election, stopping them to visit around Japan to make back-up speeches for other new and/or younger LDP candidates.

“Ozawa Girls” need to learn from “Koizumi Children” to be truly succeed as positicians. They have not really gone through preparatory training as politicians. They have not worked their way up the food chain to become politicians. They benefited much from public criticism of LDP. Now that they have been elected to serve to improve the country, they will be tested and evaluated by the citizens whether they really deserve the position they won by the election. They would need to achieve tangible results if they are to be re-elected in the next election, which would not be like the August 30 election but is assumed to be much more tough one for DPJ.

In conclusion, “Ozawa Girls” have potential to positively impact Japanese society, which is behind many other countries on Diversity in general. “Ozawa Girls “ could become a break through in the Japanese politics with their vitality, competence, clear mission/belief and strong will. With strong leadership and sponsorship, favourable environment and support, they would be able to unleash their potential and through experience, pickup quickly to grow as good politicians and contribute to change and improve the country. If that do become a reality, it is possible that they become the role model to drive diversity throughout the nation.

Megumi Oyanagi