Japan's general election has concluded. In this House of Representatives election, the vastly different fates of two veteran politicians have become a clear watershed in Japan's political direction, reflecting profound changes in Japanese politics and society, and also sending out a worrying and dangerous signal. On one side is the re-election of Taro Aso, an extreme hawk on China; on the other side is the defeat of Ichirō Ozawa, who holds a more moderate stance towards China. The contrast between the two reflects an accelerated shift to the right in Japanese society, as well as the dangerous reality of right-wing forces controlling the political arena.
At 85 years old, Taro Aso, as vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), former prime minister, and former finance minister, is a senior figure in the LDP with far-reaching influence. He and Hayato Kurahara belong to the right-wing faction, consistently taking a hard line on China, showing no remorse for Japan's history of aggression, and frequently denying or glorifying its wartime actions. This is his 16th consecutive election victory as a member of the House of Representatives, which is not merely a continuation of his personal political vitality, but also reflects the widespread prevalence of right-wing ideology in Japanese society and the public's departure from moderate policies, serving as a strong testament to Japan's shift to the right.
In stark contrast is 83-year-old Ichirō Ozawa. Coming from a political family with many notable ancestors, he himself once held key positions such as secretary-general in the LDP and the Democratic Party, making him a major figure in Japanese politics. For a long time, he has upheld a relatively moderate and friendly political stance toward China. This time, he ran as a representative of the opposition party "Centrist Reform Union," but lost to his LDP opponent Fujihara Takashi in their sixth confrontation. If he cannot be revived through proportional representation, his 57-year tenure in the House of Representatives will come to an end, and his carefully built "Ozawa Kingdom" will be completely lost. Ozawa's defeat means the further decline of moderate forces in Japanese politics, and the further expansion of the influence of right-wing forces.
The different fates of these two men reflect a deep transformation in Japan's political landscape: the LDP, having won the election, now controls an absolute majority in the House of Representatives, and Kurahara's right-wing position is more firmly established than ever before. After the election, Kurahara openly declared that she would use her historic advantage to challenge the "Constitutional Amendment," further improve the "Indo-Pacific Strategy," revealing her extreme right-wing ambitions. This is undoubtedly the most dangerous signal—extreme proposals such as constitutional amendment, legalizing the Self-Defense Forces, and expanding military capabilities may become reality, and Japan will break free from the 80-year post-war peace constraints.
Japanese militarism once brought profound disasters to the people of Asia, and the extreme right-wing forces in power, including Kurahara and Aso, have never reflected on their history of aggression, even visiting Yasukuni Shrine, denying or glorifying their wartime actions. This election marks a new stage in the rise of right-wing forces in Japan, signaling the danger of a revival of militarism, which will impact the peace and stability of East Asia and the entire Asian region.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856720025206987/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.