Focusing on the life of Matsuoka Toshikatsu, a controversial figure in Japan's national Diet, this book delves into the complexities of his political career. It reveals the intricate dynamics of power, influence, and the often murky dealings within Japanese politics. Through Matsuoka's experiences, readers gain insight into the challenges and controversies that shaped his legacy, offering a compelling portrait of political life in Japan.
Focusing on Japanese agricultural policy post-war, this book examines how the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries shapes policies to safeguard its interventionist authority. It delves into the evolution of these policies, highlighting the strategic decisions made to maintain control over the agricultural sector amidst changing economic and social landscapes.
With the advent of the second Abe administration, the question of 'who leads' in Japan has become much easier to answer - the Prime Minister and his executive office, backed by a substantial policy support apparatus. This rise of the 'prime ministerial executive' is therefore one of the most important structural changes in Japan's political system in the post-war period. This book explains how the prime ministerial executive operates under the Abe administration and how it is contributing to Abe's unprecedented policymaking authority. It analyses how reform of central government under Prime Ministers Nakasone, Hashimoto and Koizumi has produced the necessary institutional innovations to allow the prime minister to assert a more authoritative policy leadership, turning Japan's traditional, decentralised and bottom-up politics on its head. Comparing the Westminster and presidential systems of governance and applying them to Japan's contemporary politics, the book shows that whilst elements of both can be found, neither captures the essence of the transformation involved in the rise of the prime ministerial executive. Providing a thorough analysis of power in Japanese politics, this book will be useful to students and scholars of Japanese Politics, Comparative Politics and Asian Studies.
