How One Political Party Has Dominated Modern Japan
A look at how the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan has been able to rule Japan for almost 70 years.
Let me know what you think, and if there is anything I can improve on. Thank you!
#Politics #LDP #Japan #History #Asia #Animation #Liberals #Democrats #Conservatives
Time stamps:
00:00 Intro
00:31 LDP
02:17 Building Party Unity
04:32 Iron Triangle
05:55 Japanese Elections
09:14 Realpoltik
10:52 Komeito
12:11 The Modern LDP
13:11 Outro
Patreon - / lawarch
Donate Directly: www.paypal.com...
Credits:
Mount Fuji and Shinkansen bullet train by ion66 - license: Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)
Other Images from Unsplash or in the public domain
Sound effects from 512 Sound Effects (8-bit style) by Juhani Junkala or in the public domain
Sources:
The Liberal Democratic Party: Its adaptability and predominance in Japanese politics for 60 years - Michio Umeda (2018)
Who Governs Japan? Politicians and Bureaucrats in the Policy-Making Processes - Maurice Wright (1999)
Japan: A Country Study - Ronald E. Dolan, Robert L. Worden (1994)
Пікірлер: 667
KZread seems to have tweaked the algorithm to promote smaller channels, and videos like this makes me really appreciate the change. Promising channel, keep up the good work!
@Lawarch
Жыл бұрын
Working on the next video right now! it should be out this week. I'm thankful for the algorithm and that so many kind people have been so encouraging in the comments
@Nakla
Жыл бұрын
In the vast majority of cases they will recommend you a small channel because you watched something from some small channel a while ago
@RomanDonut
Жыл бұрын
I’ve noticed that I’ve gotten smaller channels in my recommendations Big plus!
@ashtimbog
Жыл бұрын
it might just be you. You probably avoid big channels and like indie stuff
@dwadd7528
Жыл бұрын
this is very well researched video. many, if not most, videos and documentaries about japanese politics utter nonsense, sometime straight racist.
Japanese here. I just wanted to thank you, because despite I've been watching almost exclusively English essay/short-documentary style contents on KZread for about 4 years at this point, this was somehow the first time I've found anyone who could even scratch the surface of the nature of LDP. And not only that, I actually learned new things from your video. If I could add some comments to this, I would say that this way of having a big tent for everyone, and putting emphasis on inner coordination of interests rather than confrontation and/or competition, is something that fit very well to traditional Japanese culture. When someone says Japanese people value "harmony" and hate open confrontation, this, this system of LDP, is I think one of the biggest examples of that.
@Lawarch
Жыл бұрын
Thanks so much for the kind words! A good English language channel on Japanese politics you might enjoy is Langley Esquire. They haven't posted as much recently but have some really good videos discussing the LDP as well as the Komeito and Japanese Communist parties
@nny2055
Жыл бұрын
せやねん。
@vodlistener
Жыл бұрын
You always oppose someone in politics. Even if you vote LDP, you would oppose certain LDP factions and all the opposition parties. If you don't vote you oppose the entire democratic system of your nation and indirectly oppose smaller parties and smaller LDP factions as well. There will always be atleast one politician, who doesn't like your existence and what it represents. In politics there can never be harmony.
@licjar.xeymelloz
Жыл бұрын
@@vodlistener You're very right. My comment was more about how people perceive and act (that's what "culture" means), rather than about the reality of the system. Also you can argue that with different cultures comes different definitions of "politics". I'm neither defending nor praising the LDP system. It's just that it has its reasons to exist, which of course include cultural ones.
@sw36jl
Жыл бұрын
Funnily enough, this is the reason the Chinese give for their support of the Communist Party of China, that the CCP is a big tent, and many people are in it with various interests and wrestling for power at the top. However, Japan in my view is significantly culturally more collectivist than China is.
Man this feels more of a company than a party to be honest.
@CaptainGrat75
Жыл бұрын
Well, conservatives don't care about human beings so it makes sense.
Good. Haven't seen anyone talk about the 1955 system for a while. A few things to add here though, the Liberal party that was led by Yoshida Shigeru was not a "liberal" party in the American sense. It was "liberal" (classical liberalism) in the European sense, so, it was on the right. It promoted free-market capitalism, free trade, conservatism, and a pro-American foreign policy, which gave rise to the so-called "Yoshida doctrine" that dominated the first half of the post-war years. On the other hand, the Democratic party was more like a traditional conservative party that supported Japan's sovereignty, anti-US interferences, and rearmament. It was led by Hatoyama Ichiro, who during the pre-war period attempted to negotiate with the West while at the same time attempting to save Japan's sovereignty. The Democrats were far to the right than the Liberals on social matters. After the 1955 merger, the LDP was essentially fragmented with factions within the party originating from the fact that two kinds of conservative groups joined together to prevent the Socialist Party from gaining a foothold in the government (The Socialists were themselves split into the Leftist [Marxist] wing and Rightist [social democracy] wing. The merger to form the LDP was a reaction by two different conservatives when the Socialists united). Why don't you do the next video on "The 6th Party Congress of the Japanese Communist Party" or something like "The Continual Decline of the Left-Wing Parties [JCP and JSP] in Japan". These might explain why leftism failed in Japan and why a practical and "realpolitik" conservative party like the LDP has been ruling since 1955 (except for 1994 and 2009-2012).
@Pan_Z
Жыл бұрын
Should note that the American use of the word "Liberal" is much a misappropriation of the term. In America, Progressives started misusing the word "Liberal" in the early 20th-century to avoid using the term "Socialism." America has largely kept that nomenclature.
@ihavenojawandimustscream4681
Жыл бұрын
@@Pan_Z American progressives like FDR or LBJ aren't socialists as much as they are big government welfarist social liberals in the vein of Woodrow Wilson and Ted Roosevelt. (Maybe not the social liberal part) Economically they're closer to the various right wing parties in post-Soviet Europe like the PiS in Poland or the Islamic Brotherhood than the Labour/Eurocommunists
@tariz32
Жыл бұрын
@@Pan_Z Yes, starting in the 1930s, New Dealers began to represent themselves as "[modern/social] liberal" as opposed to "[classical] liberal" of the Old Right. This shift was because New Dealers claimed that social democratic, progressive, and leftist policies were needed to maintain social justice. They presented "liberalism" in a utilitarian sense, i.e., in line with Jeremy Bentham's and John Stuart Mill's "social liberalism". John Rawls went on to make it more compatible with the American classical liberal society during the post-war years.
@FlyxPat
Жыл бұрын
Some liberal parties can also be considered centrist in Europe, like the FDP in Germany, which variously enters coalitions with the CDU/CSU and SPD/Gruenen. Euro liberalism isn't necessarily conservative on social values; Euro liberal parties often have a strong social liberal faction. Canadian liberalism aligns with Americans as left wing. UK liberalism is centrist like the Euro version (LDP) and social liberal. In Australia and NZ, liberalism is considered right wing; the main conservative party in Australia is actually called the Liberal Party.
@Pan_Z
Жыл бұрын
@@FlyxPat You're touching upon how the left-right political spectrum is (literally) one-dimensional, and often limiting. Liberal parties can be socially progressive or conservative depending upon the country. Their commonality is usually in regards to economics, where they advocate for less taxes, less state involvement in the economy, ect... The "Liberals" in America & Canada are known as Social Liberals, Progressive Liberals, Progressives, and Social Democrats in other countries. The important thing to note about Liberalism is it's never characterised as Left-wing in the economic sense due to its opposition to state control of the economy.
The LDP reminds me of the state American parties were in during the 1950s and 1960s. Where you can have extremely right winger politicians like George Wallace and Strom Thurmond on the same party platform as liberals like John F Kennedy. (For a Republican example, like having Richard Nixon and Barry Goldwater running with Thomas Dewey and Nelson Rockefeller)
@whatayaDO543
Жыл бұрын
Ironically, Nixon himself will lead China into a vehemently anti USSR stance that span to many decades until the USSRs collapse
@johkupohkuxd1697
Жыл бұрын
Yes absolutely, big-tent parties. Unfortunately for Japan they have only one of them, so it dominates.
@Pan_Z
Жыл бұрын
Even today, the Democrats & Republicans are still somewhat big tent. You have Senators like Rand Paul (liberal) and Susan Collins (centrist, statist) under the same party. Likewise, even though the Democratic Party has grown more extreme in the past decade, they have some broad ideological representation, through politicians such as Senator Joe Manchin (centrist) and Representative AOC (socialist). Also, Richard Nixon was likely closer to Dewey than Goldwater. Dewey & Nixon supported many of the Progressive Era bills, while Goldwater opposed them. Barry Goldwater's ideology helped mould America's modern Libertarian party. He often disagreed with Nixon's policies, and told Nixon he and other Republican Senators would vote yes in Nixon's impeachment trial.
@drscopeify
Жыл бұрын
@@johkupohkuxd1697 My concern is if a political party has both right and left elements then what are the voters getting? I guess just the vote on the party itself and not a specific direction. I think that would make it hard for the party to make decisions and govern if a vote for them is not the public vote of confidence on any particular political direction, just like giving a blank check, the voters are just telling the party, here you figure it out.... I guess I can see it as a cultural thing but from a western country perspective It just seems so unusual.
@honkhonk8009
Жыл бұрын
It hasnt changed a bit. The fact we have Trump and George Bush on the same political party, is basically the same thing. Trump has the foreign policy of Bernie Sanders combined with the economics of George Bush. Hes not some diehard rightwinger, but basically a neo-liberal on steroids. Modern day republicans arent conservative in the slightest. Their just neo-liberals. The Democrat party seems to have much more conservatives (in the economic/foreign policy front) nowadays if Il be real with you.
I guess the best description of Japan would be a "One Party Plus" system, where only one party is going to hold power and win elections, but other parties exist and win some seats, similar to Commonwealth Countries like UK/Canada/Australia/NZ being "Two Party Plus" systems.
@runajain5773
Жыл бұрын
@@navymustang0617 same with india multi parties system
@chinguunerdenebadrakh7022
Жыл бұрын
Australia might be on course to change as independents got pretty decent results in the last election thanks to a voting system where you can vote for who you want rather than against someone without fear of "wasting" your vote.
@jasonstormsong4940
Жыл бұрын
There’s a name for it: dominant party system.
@rizkyadiyanto7922
Жыл бұрын
theres name for it: fake democracy system.
@bebebaba3442
Жыл бұрын
It’s dominant party, not one-party system. So it still a democracy imo
ive been looking for videos on japanese politics for awhile, so im super glad i finally found a channel that wants to cover them! instantly subbed, nice video!
@Lawarch
Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the video! I felt the same way! that's why I wanted to make this video because I felt Japanese politics was really really interesting but I couldn't find enough content on it on KZread that presented it in a fun way.
This was a really well put together video, I really do hope you continue making videos!
@Lawarch
Жыл бұрын
Working on the next video as we speak! it had more research than I expected so it sadly got pushed back a bit
@ivandiaz8892
Жыл бұрын
@@Lawarch Don’t worry about it! Take your time with making better content!
"Liberal" outside of the US means to support free markets and private property. It's seen as a centre-right ideology in other countries. By that definition the LDP's name makes sense
@amazingalliteration
Жыл бұрын
There is no standardized definition for what "liberal" means globally.
@INTJ791
Жыл бұрын
@@amazingalliteration neo liberalism, right, social liberalism left
@amazingalliteration
Жыл бұрын
@@INTJ791 Nope. Only works "generally" in Europe.
@millevenon5853
Жыл бұрын
It means the same thing in America. The Democratic party is a liberal, pro business, pro wallstreet party
@Nike-nm8jc
11 ай бұрын
@@amazingalliteration also works like that in Asia, latinoamerica and Africa. I guess it's just yall that do the weird liberal = left thing.
One party system: 😦 One party system, Japan: 🤓
@mcboat3467
8 ай бұрын
China has similar system but it's bad and evil ofc!
@mimorisenpai8540
3 ай бұрын
That dominant party system because japan still practice multi parties system.
@romawar
3 ай бұрын
@@mimorisenpai8540 DPRK has multiparty system too
@mimorisenpai8540
3 ай бұрын
@@romawar they clearly didn't
@romawar
3 ай бұрын
@@mimorisenpai8540 they do
So the anti-NHK one has actually changed their name multiple times like "NHK License Fee Nonpayment Party", "The Party to Protect the People from NHK", "The Party to Protect People from Old Political Parties", "The Party That Teaches How to Not Pay the NHK License Fee" (I kid you not with these names), and on March 8, 2023 to the Seijika Joshi 48 Party or "Political Women's 48". While the main topic of the party is to, as they say it best, "Destroy NHK", they've now expanded to different issues including lowering taxes, increasing military defense, and reaching energy independence through nuclear energy. People like to think we only have one party in the DPRK, but we don't! Within our Supreme People's Assembly, there are three other parties. The KSDP or Korean Social Democratic Party with 50 seats (since 2014), the Chondoist Chongu Party (a Korean pantheistic religion) with 22 seats (since 2014), and the Chongryon (to represent Zainichi Koreans in Japan who affiliate with the DPRK) with 6 seats. There are also two Independents. All of these are within the same alliance, the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea.
This is a very well made video. Seeing as youtube reccomended this video to me on the front page, I bet you might start taking off soon.
this is incredibly well done!! I read a few introductions into Japanese Politics for Uni and this video hits so many important points.
Seeing the start of a solid channel here
@Lawarch
Жыл бұрын
Thanks so much for the kind words!
@adelalmohtaseb5261
Жыл бұрын
True
I think it was really important that you clarified why Japan's apparent "one party state" status is different from other countries like China or North Korea, or even the early 20th century southern US. Unlike in those countires, the LDP still can lose elections, but it's willing to compromise with the other parties and make changes to appease the populous to keep itself in power. It also has a lot of built-in advantages with the system, yes, but those advantages are not so great that it makes them completely invincible.
@ericktellez7632
Жыл бұрын
My brother in Christ that’s still a one party rule, just because it has a few concessions it doesn’t make it okey wtf?
@lesterdsouza205
Жыл бұрын
@@ericktellez7632 its a coalition my brother in zues
@d3thkn1ghtmcgee74
Жыл бұрын
@@lesterdsouza205 it is still a one party state where corruption is institutionalized... Eventually they will take back all those concessions when it's too inconvenient. It's why the people now are working longer and harder than ever before and suicide rates are through the roof and death by work exhaustion is common place...
@Pancasilaist8752
Жыл бұрын
@@d3thkn1ghtmcgee74 It was still not a one-party state but rather a dominant party democracy. Unlike in North Korea or China, the LDP can actually lose the election whereas in China other parties just getting a ministerial position is considered a great achievement (yes, the PRC has 8 minor parties outside the Chinese Communist Party)
@catmonarchist8920
Жыл бұрын
'Dominant party system' is a better term because they could be voted out unlike a one party state where only pro government parties are legal.
Please, I know you're new, but this is a channel I can really get behind. I'd love more videos like these on nations that rarely get covered. As an American watcher, it's so rare to see videos like these being made for us.
Just one small correction: regarding the two major US political parties, the Democratic Party is center-right and the Republican Party is far-right.
@catmonarchist8920
Жыл бұрын
Or you're just far left and they're normal parties 😂
@JoaoSantos-ur1gg
Жыл бұрын
@@catmonarchist8920 Bitch please, normal parties support universal healthcare. Even monarchist ones.
@onlyagermanguy
Жыл бұрын
@@catmonarchist8920 Compared to other Democracys like Western or Northern Europe yes they are Far Right and Center Right. I mean the Democrats would call our Center left Party (SPD) Communists and the Republicans would probably call them Satanic. Your Partys are mutch but not normal
@ericp0012
Жыл бұрын
Basically, the USA has one(left-wing) party in power and the other (centrist/ moderate) party is the controlled opposition.
@generalterrarian1672
Жыл бұрын
Commie alert
"The liberals and the democrats joined forces to form a strong conservative opposition to the Japanese left" Somethings not adding up here in my American brain lol
@WJSipe1
Жыл бұрын
It’s hard to grasp because the US doesn’t have to truly leftist party (a la socialist or communist party). Our political spectrum is VERY limited compared to others.
@Arkiasis
Жыл бұрын
@@Kiogleo46 Communists and Socialists? What? The Dems have no such people. AOC and Bernie Sanders are run of the mill Social Democrats.
@ruleblackberry3469
Жыл бұрын
@@Kiogleo46in some countries the democrat party would not even be considered left.
@mshaqed2538
Жыл бұрын
Well, you have to understand that in many parts of the world "liberalism" mostly just means economic liberalism (as in right wing fiscal conservatism) and that liberal parties are usually characterized as centrist or even centre-right parties on the basis of being economically right wing with some support to cultural liberalism. Left wing parties are usually social democratic (basically what the most "left-wing" and "progressive" politicians in america believe in, like Bernie Sanders) in the centre-left and the moderate left wing, and full on socialist or communist parties that oppose capitalism to the left of them. In Japan the liberal party was a full on conservative party that just supported a more "free-market" approach than the super conservative democratic party, and both parties united due to their joint conservative nature. Also, if you think that's confusing, try Portugese politics, with a centre-right party called "the social democratic party" that isn't at all social democratic and a "socialist party" that is social democratic. P.S- I hope you understood my explanation and I would happily answer any questions about politics outside the US of A.
@nameincognitus5817
Жыл бұрын
@@Kiogleo46 Bernie Sanders is like the most left-leaning candidate Dems can get and even so he's a socdem at best.
Your editing is so high quality! I love the graphics you use too! You’ve just earned a subscriber
love the idea of implementing retro gaming graphics into your video. Nice touch.
Well done! Ever since I've heard that Japan has one rulining party Ive been curious as to why, and this video provided the best explanation Ive seen so far.
Finally, a video talking about Japan being a de facto one-party state. My personal guesses/observations were proven correct, because I've really been wondering on why the LDP has been dominating in ruling Japan since 1955. Guess it really is true that it is a de facto one-party state. Also a bit related but Britain also kind of has a similar situation with Japan, in the sense that the Conservative Party over there has been ruling the country for the past 13 years since Cameron came in and Labour really hasn't had another prime minister after Blair (as of writing this that is, hope it ages well for Labour to win the next general elections). Thank you for existing and making this because this is very educational and Japanese politics are generally underrated in most of the world. And with like everyone else in this comment section, I hope that you go places/eventually become popular with being lucky in the KZread algorithm.
Calling the US Republicans "Centre-Right" seems like a fucking understatement.
@ericp0012
Жыл бұрын
The Republicans will more or less model after the Democrats within 5 to 10 years. They are basically progressives driving the speed limit.
@FunctionallyLiteratePerson
Жыл бұрын
Or the democrats as center left. If anything, democrats are the center right ones
That being said, this is similar to the even more authoritarian People's Action Party in Singapore. Founded in 1954 as center-left, PAP became increasingly more right after Lee Kuan Yew expelled the leftist faction in 1961 the year before Singapore merged with Malaysia. After Singapore was kicked out in 1965, Lee Kuan Yew won the 1968 general election unopposed, and his party won all 58 seats. He and his administration wielded absolute power over Singapore's political scene until 1990, and the party remains the dominant party in Singaporean politics today. He managed to transform Singapore from an impoverished society to a center of aviation, tourism, banking, and shipping. Hidden behind all this, he curtailed press freedom, imposed restrictions on protesting, and attempted to dismantle any political opposition by engaging in defamation lawsuits. Although Singapore has increased representation by the opposition now and created a Leader of the Opposition position in 2020 (the opposition is led by the socdem Workers' Party; there's also the progressive Progress Singapore), it continues to be criticized for not doing enough because of free speech restrictions and labor rights abuses.
@2hotflavored666
Жыл бұрын
"Workers' Party" yikes, what a communistic sounding name. Great history lesson tho, thanks for sharing 👍
@Tgungen
Жыл бұрын
There are some other examples that come out of Lee's "modernizing authoritarian" model, such as Mahatir Muhammad's Malaysia, Paul Kagame's Rwanda, and China after the reforms of Deng Xiaoping
@akapasokopo
Жыл бұрын
I’ve found you again
@tysonmcconnell7112
Жыл бұрын
@@2hotflavored666 Your response to “press freedom is being destroyed by the current government!” is to be scared of the name of a symbolic opposition party?
256 Subscriber with only one Video? You're off to a great start, please continue to make videos.
Looks like somebody went to the J.J. McCullough school of video editing. It's a solid style. Appreciate the information
This video covers how the LDP has a robust system of keeping its voters & funders content, but skims over just how biased Japan's electoral process is in favour of the ruling party. 1) As mentioned in the video, Japan uses a mixed system for elections. However, the numbers reveal the bias. Of the 465 seats in Shuugiin (The Lower House), 289 are single seat constituencies assigned via First-Past-The-Post. 176 are determined by Proportional Representation using the Jefferson/D'Hondt Method. The LDP, being the largest Japanese party, usually receive only about 1/3rd of the nation's votes. Plurality voting, however, *heavily* favours the largest parties, and this is reflected in results. The LDP receives about 1/3rd of the seats from Proportional Representation, but about half the single-seat constituencies. With most seats being determined by First-Past-The-Post, FPTP favouring the largest party, and the government (which is almost always controlled by the LDP) gerrymandering these districts, the electoral process is weighted toward the LDP. 2) Japan allocates public funding of parties through the amount of seats obtained in the National Diet, not percent of the vote received each election. Favours the largest parties. 3) Flat out spying on the opposition. The Japanese Communist Party, while only 10 seats in Shuugiin, is under surveillance by police for being an "anti-social group." This disincentives people from joining the party, lest they be subject to police monitoring. 4) The Prime Minister (almost always of the LDP) can decide to hold a snap election at his agency. This allows elections to be held while the ruling parties popularity is high.
This video was fantastic, great job!
Great video, I’ve not seen any other similar videos about the LDP, so this was really interesting. I hope you make more videos soon!
This is awesome. I hope you cover more topics related to East Asian and SEA
I love this video, both its content and its style. Great video!
Amazing video. I don’t know how this has not reached 1M view.
I am a member of the LDP party. The LDP is often described abroad as a right-wing party, but I felt that was a very superficial commentary. In reality, as expressed in this video, it is supported by a diverse group of people. The current president, Fumio Kishida, is considered a leftist figure within the LDP, but his foreign and defense policies are relatively satisfactory to the right. They have no qualms about adopting the best aspects of policy from the outside world, and are often referred to as the department store of policy. The LDP's long-term hold on power in Japan can be attributed not only to its industrial ties and broad base of supporters, but also to its "enemy lost". In the past, when the DPJ came to power, they failed to deliver on many of their key promises. Now they are in the center of the opposition, but they have not fully regained the trust of the Japanese people.
0:25 As somebody who has lived in many countries, the American two-party system is no longer between a centre-left and centre-right party but a centre-right and far-right party.
@FunctionallyLiteratePerson
Жыл бұрын
This is true. Both are neoliberal and the more left party (the democrats) definitely are further right than many center parties elsewhere. They like to pretend they are left leaning when they don't have power though
@potatomahonman5008
Жыл бұрын
I wish that was true
@mildlydispleased3221
Жыл бұрын
@@potatomahonman5008 Well, it is.
@kordellswoffer1520
3 ай бұрын
I think you’re an amateur about American politics and shouldn’t comment on it.
@mildlydispleased3221
3 ай бұрын
@kordellswoffer1520 Mate, I have relatives who live in the US, I had to do my A-level in US politics, currently study politics at Uni and I follow it more than most Americans do, I have pretty good knowledge about it. If you look at any other country and their two party system whether it's the Labour and the Conservative Parties in the UK, CDU and SPD in Germany, Conservatives and Liberals in Canada, Liberal and Labor parties in Australia or ANC and DA in South Africa, the US Democratic party more closely align with the right-leaning party and the Republicans' ideology is only seen in fringe Far-right parties. Most Dems don't support universal healthcare or higher taxes on the wealthy and businesses and actually take quite a hard line on immigration. Many Republicans still oppose abortion and same-sex marriage even though most Conservative parties in the rest of the world acknowledge these as fundamental rights. In most of the world "liberal" means centrist or centre-right, not "Left-wing" like it does in the States. Your country's politics is probably most comparable to modern France as the two largest parties are a Liberal/centre-right and a far-right party, although a more left-wing alliance is likely to overtake the centrists the next election.
The socialdemocrats of Sweden has ruled Sweden for the last 89 out of 100 years. Try that for one party state…
very american to call the two USA Parties as "Center Left and Center Right" xD
@Emel_unlegit
Жыл бұрын
Fr doe
Damn, what a well edited and easily digestible 101 to Japanese politics. Can't wait to finish the rest of your videos.
素晴らしい解説でした。あなたの次の動画を楽しみにしています。
This might be my new favorite channel! Awesome video!
I wouldn't call the democrats centre left but that's just me. Also, outside of North America liberals are called so entirely on economic grounds. Since they're favour free market economics. So economically right wing. They can be conservative socially or not. Doesn't really matter when the economic policy is the same.
@TokyoBalletReprise
Жыл бұрын
That’s not just you, that’s literally anyone who understands politics. The democrats are a center-right party while the republicans are a far right party.
@palatasikuntheyoutubecomme2046
Жыл бұрын
@@TokyoBalletReprise no wrong anyone further left than hitler is a communist right? - Average american
Wow I had no idea about this. Great video!
It's basically like Singapore, in that much like with the People's Action Party it basically has kept its power through sheer corruption, big-tentism that ultimately destroys any hint of ideology, and gerrymandering.
@falconeshield
Жыл бұрын
At that point, just reestablish the monarchy
Great video! Very informative
Love how your little characters look just as you'd find them on a Japanese advert!
Just found your channel, keep up the good work! Very enlightening ❤
That was a very interesting video! Hopefully you'll channel will continue to grow, good luck.
@Lawarch
Жыл бұрын
Thanks so much for the kind words!
This looks like a very interesting upcoming channel. Are the videos going to be about politics? Or stuff in general?
@Lawarch
Жыл бұрын
Snap shots at interesting moments in history not just Japanese politics, but politics will always be there
0:25 Democrats aren't center-left. They're very centrist. Like in Europe they'd be more similar to parties like the CDU than the SPD. They have a couple center-left politicians like AOC and Bernie but that's the exception.
I found this very interesting and I liked the way you put it together
@Lawarch
Жыл бұрын
Thanks so much! I spend as much time editing and making graphics as research so I'm happy to see people are enjoy the results!
I’m not surprised the CIA was behind encouraging Japanese political system to be this way.
@attiepollard7847
Жыл бұрын
It was either that or have the KGB takeover in Japan
@JohnnyYK
Жыл бұрын
@@attiepollard7847 Got any evidence the KGB was behind the left parties in Japan? Also the US occupied Japan for ten years prior so how would the KGB been able to get a foothold in Japan sounds like the Japanese people by their own volition wanted more left parties but the CIA stopped that and let a bunch of class A war criminals band together to put Japan under a 1 party state.
@somebodyontheinternet7743
Жыл бұрын
@@attiepollard7847 That would be awesome
@attiepollard7847
Жыл бұрын
@@somebodyontheinternet7743 only for those who don't like freedom
@somebodyontheinternet7743
Жыл бұрын
@@attiepollard7847 If you are talking about the freedom to work yourself to death in a capitalist hell hole then yeah.
Good content, but please boost your voice levels and turn down the volume on the sound effects.
Nobody: Lawarch: Nobosuke Quiche🧇
The LDP is a liberal party. Their ideology is based on classical liberalism, it’s just that the US twisted the world “liberal” to mean socially left wing. It’s disingenuous and simplistic to just paint the LDP as some Conservative Party. Some factions within it are, but certain of their policies would also be seen as very left wing in other countries.
The ironic thing is Japan is the closest thing to a functioning communist state the world has. Not praising or denouncing, just stating. Japan always seems on the edge of going full socialist so they accommodate by allowing policies that are more and more left. In the big cities it's a little more free/independent but elsewhere it's easy to see. The desire to be one at every level and the tendency to refer to higher authority to resolve differences basically guarantees the current situation and hence why you get basically a one party state.
Given a sub, hope this channel goes well! This video was very in-depth and interesting!
Most of this video is great, but as a European I really can’t agree with saying Democrats are center left and the Republicans center right lol
@attiepollard7847
Жыл бұрын
Both parties are in the center. Exactly who in the Democrat party is calling for a semi nationalize industry?
@ericp0012
Жыл бұрын
I guess the standards of left-wing and right-wing are different in other parts of the world.
Really great video! I hope you make more videos like this!
@Lawarch
Жыл бұрын
Thank you! let me know if there are any topics you would be interested in seeing
Really get work! I hope to see your channel grow!
Japan is a democracy but it isn't culturally democratic. Japanese tend to defer to authority, hierarchy, and seniority. A hypothetical: if Flight 93 had been filled with Japanese passengers, they would not have voted to take back the plane; they would have deferred to the most senior authority figure to give the green light. Same result-- different thought process.
The US has more of a centre right party, and an extreme right party dominating their politics.
Just goes to show how universally powerful inertia is. Until shit hits the fan I doubt much will change.
@iamthinking2252_
Жыл бұрын
When shit did hit the fan… well the LDP was out of power (ie DPJ was in power when Fukushima nuclear incident )
@Snp2024
Жыл бұрын
Considering how flexible LDP is shit probably will not hit fan
@farhanatashiga3721
Жыл бұрын
@@iamthinking2252_ I do wonder how things would have been had 3/11 not happened, the chaos and uncertainty of the aftermath is one of the reasons why voters flock back to voting for the LDP.
Well, isn't it the same in the US? One party has dominated the country for years. It is just that they have two wings of it. The Corporate Party.
@attiepollard7847
Жыл бұрын
No one is going to want to vote for Congress and president a green party person. That's why people who are more left wing don't like the current political system in America. They'd rather save trees then fight the Russians in the Ukraine
@FunctionallyLiteratePerson
Жыл бұрын
Yup. Gotta love the ratchet effect! /s
Dope video I love the style but the sound effects were just slightly too loud. I loved the effect they had on the video tho just may wanna make them more quiet in future videos.
As a European, hearing the democrats and republicans described as centre left and centre right is so funny to me, as over here they seem closer to our centre right and far right respectively
@attiepollard7847
Жыл бұрын
Exactly who was calling for semi nationalization on the Democrats side? No one so that's why they stay in the center
@FunctionallyLiteratePerson
Жыл бұрын
I'm an American but I completely agree
This might be the greatest firt video any channel has ever done
the democratic party is surly not a center left party. for eu standards they're center right and the republicans are right or even far right in some aspects
@verwwe6293
Жыл бұрын
LMAO. The republicans are leftists. Many are starting to support gay marriage. That is not right wing in the slightest.
@FunctionallyLiteratePerson
Жыл бұрын
The democratic party is center right, but the Overton window is so fucked up in the USA that people think otherwise
This is very nicely put together!
Suggestion for next video: People's Action Party of Singapore
Great channel
My meager understanding is that "Liberal" does not mean the same thing in the U.S. that it does in rest of the world. In the U.S., it means "populist social democratic left", whereas elsewhere in the world, it means something closer to "libertarian". This meaning remains in U.S. English in words like "economic liberalization", "liberalized economy", etc. Anyway, so it's no surprise (to me, at least) that the party opposed to socialism would call themselves the "liberal" party in Japan.
@AlohaBiatch
Жыл бұрын
Yes, the LDP fit the definition of classical liberals, in that they espouse economic autonomy and deregulation. They are most definitely liberals, only someone with a US specific understanding of the world “liberal” would disagree.
@UserOfTheName
Жыл бұрын
I guess people just look at different sides of liberalism. Economic liberalism and social liberalism
@FunctionallyLiteratePerson
Жыл бұрын
Liberal is in reference to neoliberal economics
Very informative thank you
Great vid. To sum this up: A party with far more seats in government than its public support justifies. Add the nationalistic and fascist tendencies of a party that always wins and you have a country in decline.
Great video!
"Liberal" outside of America CAN be a conservative ideology
@ericp0012
Жыл бұрын
Yes, they might not necessarily be socially liberal. But they are in many cases economically liberal.
@FunctionallyLiteratePerson
Жыл бұрын
I would say it is conservative even in the USA. Both major parties here are for neoliberal/ capitalist economics. People just dont understand what the word means in the USA
Brilliant analysis! We will watch your career with great interest
Nice video, you should invest in a better mic. It's a bit hard to understand u sometimes
@Lawarch
Жыл бұрын
Yeah going to try and upgrade my mic soon. Do you have a recommendation for what might be good?
May the algorithm gods bless you
@Lawarch
Жыл бұрын
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
@moustachio05
Жыл бұрын
@@Lawarch This vid was not only really informative but also super well produced for a first video. Im definitely subbing and turning on notifs!
The term Liberal outside of North America is also talking about the economic system. Look at Brazil's Bolsonaro's Party's Name, Liberal Party. Note that he is an ultra nationalist and a social conservative.
@FunctionallyLiteratePerson
Жыл бұрын
It means that inside the USA too but people don't know that. The democratic party is liberal, and liberal ≠ leftist (or even progressive)
Great video! Easy to understand the issues. In addition the Japanese hadnt vote in the past when organized votes by LDP and socialists promised stability. Now many non-partisans think therere no parties they can rely on, including many opponents, but most of them cannot pay running finance so give up even before vote
Dropped a like and sub. Loved your vid!
great content, I love the audio effects
Wow only 52 subscribers? This is a very well made video and I hope you continue to make these.
@Lawarch
Жыл бұрын
Thanks so much! new video should be out this week
@devinhigoy221
Жыл бұрын
@@Lawarch Can't wait to see the next one!
dude this such a well made video subbing rn
@Lawarch
Жыл бұрын
Thank you!
Great video! Something I had no idea about. Maybe tone down the sound effects tho, they are a little too loud and a little to often.
Great summation, one thing that wasn't mentioned the direct US funding for the LDP in it's foundation
This video just give me more knowledge about Japan politics, wish to see a southeast Asia politics(like Indonesia,Thai etc.) in your video
11:30 very sorry to 'harass' you with the exact same comment but again I find stating that the LDP is supporting 'gay marriage' and 'women keeping maiden name once married' extremely misleading as the LDP is literally THE only party who's trying to stop this. All opposition parties are in favour and even the religious Komeito is open to talks and is pushing their LDP peers to be more open about it. I'm sure you are aware of this situation but still made the effort to comment again as the way you framed it just make it sound that they're all in for it. This aside, your videos are amazing! Thanks so much for your work and am looking forward to your next videos ☺
@03e-210a
8 ай бұрын
Some party members are split on it. This is why he said that it is a coalition of moderate liberals to far right politicians.
Let's not forget Prime Minister Ichirō Hatoyama, who was a Baptist and Freemason, was the one who oversaw the merger of Democrat and Liberal parties.
How similar or distinct are the LDP and the peoples' action party of Singapore? The contexts are completely different but what points of comparison stick out the most to you?
@mariomouse8265
Жыл бұрын
The LDP is nowhere near as authoritarian as the PAP in Singapore; it’s not as hostile to social democracy and Japan does not suffer illusions that China can be appeased
Japan is not one party state as what you've explained It's a "Dominant Party State"
@navymustang0617
Жыл бұрын
Yeah, the way he phrased it kinda makes it sound like japan is like North Korea or Russia or other authoritarian states Also japan has a very diverse parliament, so yeah by “dominated by the LDP” just means they hold the majority of seats, japan actually has the largest non governing communist party in the world
@TheGamer-sb3ry
Жыл бұрын
@@navymustang0617 that could become the same thing just look at pakistan
@runajain5773
Жыл бұрын
@@TheGamer-sb3rybut difference is japan after ww2 never military coup happen like happen in pakistan in 3 times and japan do not have extreme hate politics and religion because they are homogeneous not diverse and do not dominate by one region or state like pakistan punjab and pakistan politician use religion and hate india politics to gain support to form government and not single pakistan pm not completed the 5 year term so they have political system
@TheGamer-sb3ry
Жыл бұрын
@@runajain5773 you don't need any of that to achieve that and no,no government comes in power in pakistan by using India lol and no religion political parties are in power
@TheGamer-sb3ry
Жыл бұрын
@@runajain5773 Imran khan didn't completed his 5 years
With the LDP's economic policies often being much more in line with those of European social democracies rather than more traditionally conservative ones, I'd describe them as being more nationalistic than strictly conservative in western terms.
u gotta work on making the audio quality better for ur next video man
Excellent video! I'll be very excited to watch your channel grow. Your quality is top-notch! As a Mexican, it's shocking how similar yet different our 20th century was to Japan. We were also governed by a single party for 76 years, the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI. (1929-2000; 2012-2018). The PRI also had many internal factions that broke into opposition parties with limited success. Not to get toooo political (hehe), but it seems the Japanese strategy of "start conservative and then loosen up" is more effective in the long run for running a country. The PRI was founded as a way to pacify, unite, and organize surviving and opposing warlords of the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) which toppled a dictatorship which lasted 35 years (Porfirian regime of 1876-1911). However, as anti-foreign commerce and anti-Americanism sentiments were a big part of Mexican society in the early 1900s (in stark opposition to the pro-business and pro-American dictator), the early PRI put all its energy on protectionism, nationalization of industries, and a loosely warm relationship with the USSR while keeping a cold peace with the US. This worked great for decades and the "Mexican Miracle" after WWII helped Mexico quickly go from a largely illiterate and agricultural country to a literate and industrial power with a focus on oil. Then oil prices collapsed in the 1970s and the economy went down the drain. Kinda similar to Japan's economic bubble bursting in the 1980s. Neither country's economy has fully recovered from those blows. After the fall of the USSR, the PRI had to make a harsh factional turn to its more centrist and pro-American factions, which caused older leftist factions to splinter off into other parties. That, paired with notorious corruption and a liberalization of electoral law, led the PRI to lose both the Congress and Presidency by 2000. In 2000-2012 we were governed by the PRI's oldest rival and only electable opposition: the right-wing, pro-business, pro-globalization National Action Party (PAN). This was helpful to the economy but disastrous for the country as it was this party that started the Drug War which we are still suffering from. For most of the PAN's administrations, a common thing to hear from elderly people was "the PRI is the only party that knows how to govern this country." In 2012, that theory was tested when the PRI returned to power, branding itself as a reborn party with no corruption and greater unity as a firmly centrist party. Well, neither of those were accurate as it was just as corrupt as ever and more right wing than it had been in the 1990s. That 2012-2018 PRI government left office with a disastrous 12% approval rating. We are now governed by the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA): a new "leftist nationalist" party that looks like the old PRI, walks like the old PRI, and quacks like the old PRI... In fact, most of its party grandees are elderly leftist PRI members that left in the multiple party exoduses of the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. So while we are governed by MORENA, it feels like we're still under the PRI. But not the "rebranded" PRI which has become practically irrelevant, but by the 1930s-1970s PRI that held on to power through populist laws, social leftism, economic nationalism, oil promotion, and a not subtle tinge of authoritarianism and anti-Americanism. The country isn't doing better by any metric when compared to the past, but MAN, this current MORENA government is popular (63% approval rating as of today, but up to 81% in its 2019 peak.)
This looks like a deeply flawed system, but somehow Japan is still doing many things right.
@tiernanrea1726
Жыл бұрын
Exactly why the LDP keeps winning.. it built the post war Japanese state.
@kuwa333
Жыл бұрын
everything works when more than 90% of the population are highly educated
@redbepis4600
Жыл бұрын
Some of the things they do aren't to be expected from a right wing ethnostate
Really enjoyed this video, love that small creators are being pushed. I think that the sound design could be improved upon a bit as the sounds you use are sometimes a bit distracting and repetetive, but otherwise really great stuff. Subscribed.
Cool video with very well explained data. Keep it going!
@Lawarch
Жыл бұрын
Thank you! new video should hopefully be out next week!
Calling the democrats Center left is telling me all I need to know... Ffs dude
@Emel_unlegit
Жыл бұрын
Rest of the vid is good
@FunctionallyLiteratePerson
Жыл бұрын
Yeah, ameribrain moment
US politics have become so skewed that I likely would be a swing vote in most international countries (leaning right), but supposedly way to the left in the US.
@thematthew761
8 ай бұрын
How so
I've been wanting to learn about Asian politics for a while but couldn't find any good videos on the topic as a unilingual so it's great to see folks like you looking to change that, I can't wait to see what you'll make next!
Democrats are not centre-left, they're centre-right party :Dd