Most Japanese don't support any political party amid 'deep disappointment, disgust' with corruption scandals

Most Japanese citizens do not support any particular political party, according to a new opinion poll, with analysts suggesting the results underline not only public "disgust" at the corruption scandals that continue to rock the nation but also a sense that they are powerless to bring about change.

The Japanese public's disengagement from politics could have far-reaching consequences for the economy and society at large, analysts warned.

The poll, conducted from February 16 to 18 by the Nippon News Network television channel and the Yomiuri newspaper, found that 52 per cent of respondents did not support any political party, up by four percentage points from a poll last month.

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This is the first time since November 2012 that the number of people indicating no political affiliation has exceeded 50 per cent.

Support for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) stood at 24 per cent last month, the lowest since it returned to power in 2012.

There may be worse news ahead for the party, with a poll over the weekend by the Mainichi newspaper showing support for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet at 14 per cent, down by 7 points since January 28 and the worst showing for an LDP-led government since February 2009.

But other parties fared worse in the Yomiuri poll. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Nippon Ishin no Kai both had the support of 5 per cent, while Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, had 4 per cent. The Japanese Communist Party, the Democratic Party for the People and Reiwa Shinsengumi each scored just 2 per cent. The Social Democratic Party and Sanseito both saw no support.

Poll respondents voiced anger and disappointment at LDP politicians for pocketing funds collected at party fundraising events and failing to declare them for tax purposes, with many expressing scepticism that an internal party investigation would get to the root of the problem and appropriately punish those involved.

"I think there is deep disappointment - even disgust - in individual politicians, in political parties and the system itself," said Yukihisa Fujita, a former politician with the Constitutional Democratic Party.

"Unfortunately, not enough people have the will to try to change things and the electorate has been slowly brainwashed or intimidated to the point that they are no longer able to criticise," he told This Week in Asia. "There has been a gradual decline and too many people did not realise that this is a crisis of our political system."

Fujita pointed out that the LDP has been in control for virtually the whole of the last 70 years, with generations of politicians simply taking over the "safe seats" of their fathers and grandfathers. Yet there was little outcry, he said, because the nation avoided discussing religion and politics in the years immediately after World War II.

"Rocking the boat" could open a person up to criticism, Fujita said, leading to generations of Japanese becoming comfortable with the status quo, at least until recently.

"What we are seeing now gives me hope that people are finally beginning to realise that the system is not working for them," he said. "I think that if a viable alternative candidate with appealing policies suddenly appeared, then the people would rise in support."

Yakov Zinberg, a professor of international relations at Tokyo's Kokushikan University, agreed that the Japanese people have become "disappointed" in their elected representatives.

"There seems to be a constant repetition of corruption from [former prime minister Shinzo Abe's government] to now, and nobody ever gets punished," he said. "There are investigations and inquiries, and they never really go anywhere."

"And the opposition parties do not seem to have policies that are different from those of the government, so what does it matter?" he said. "It should not come as a surprise that people feel disconnected and indifferent to politics."

And that, Zinberg warns, is worrying.

"There will be a general election in the next year or so and I expect the turnout will be very low. And there are obvious implications for the democratic system, Japan's place in the world, for society and for the economy, all of which are closely linked," he said.

Zinberg also agreed that, should a charismatic leader emerge with a compelling vision, then he or she may well see voters flocking to their party.

"But now, I do not see leaders who impress the public," he said. "I see no one on the horizon who could step into that role."

Fujita was more optimistic, pointing to the no-confidence vote in the Diet on Tuesday against Masahito Moriyama, the minister of education and culture, who has been under scrutiny for his links to the controversial Unification Church that he initially denied.

Moriyama survived the vote, but Fujita believes the debate gives further ammunition to the opposition and increased the likelihood that the next election will lead to a change in government.

"If the opposition parties can start to cooperate more closely and coordinate their efforts and messages, then the people could give them a chance to take the country in a better direction," Fujita said.

This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

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