Prime Minister Fukuda has gotten off to a good start. He puts higher priority on policy dialogue with opposite parties. Hard debate on key policy issues is desperately needed among lawmakers for national interest and happiness of the people.
PM Fukuda knows it. It is good.
What are mostly wanted in the heavily damaged public pension system are sustainability, acceptability and accountability. The Japanese people want to see that system.
Retired high-rank government officials ran the association. They knew what the problem was and ignored it for many years. It is just a matter of corporate governance. What a shame! The blunder has shaken the raison d'etre of the golden parachute or Amakudari itself.
With a rapidly declining number of the work force, Japan needs closer business ties with foreign countries to survive the fierce global competition. Economic Partnership Agreement or EPA is the key to success.