Life of Kan administration mustn't be extended further
A prime minister declared in a policy speech that he would try to create a "society with the least unhappiness," but now the same prime minister has actually turned the country into a "society with unhappiness."
Prime Minister Naoto Kan must understand that his efforts to extend the life of his administration will prolong the political vacuum, and that he has to step down immediately. Creating a new political framework without Kan is the only way for the nation's politics to recover.
The ordinary Diet session has been extended for 70 days. The length of time proposed by the Democratic Party of Japan changed wildly--initially it was 90 days, then 120, next 50 and finally 70.
What is the purpose of this extension? How does Kan's resignation relate to the extended session? These points were--and still are--unclear, which is why it took until the last moment to settle the issue.
Kan and DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada compiled a compromise proposal that includes the enactment of a bill for a temporary law to allow the issuance of deficit-covering bonds, as well as compilation of a third fiscal 2011 supplementary budget under a "new framework."
They presented it to the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, but both parties refused to accept it because of the ambiguity over when Kan would step down.
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Nothing moves under Kan
Foul-ups such as this best demonstrate how the Kan administration cannot decide or move forward on anything.
Kan has spoken of an increase in the consumption tax rate and participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership economic agreement as important policy targets. However, no concrete progress has been made in these areas. This is probably because Kan repeated improvident statements without thinking about specific measures to realize the policies, or points on which compromise would be needed.
For example, he recently began insisting on the enactment of a bill for a special measures law on renewable energy sources, which obliges power firms to purchase electricity generated from clean energy sources such as solar and wind power.
The bill was approved by the Cabinet on the morning of March 11, the day of the Great East Japan Earthquake. As the disaster occurred in the afternoon, the bill is not one of the measures related to the great earthquake. Many in the business world fear the costs of purchasing such electricity will result in higher bills for consumers and that the international competitiveness of Japanese corporations would be greatly reduced.
The very act of coming up with a bill on which opinion is clearly divided is naturally seen as a measure to extend the life of his administration.
The government and ruling parties have been futilely postponing a decision on a draft of comprehensive reforms of the social security and tax systems, the pillar of which is an increase in the consumption tax rate. The DPJ top brass cannot control opposition to the draft within the party.
Kan, who said clearly he would stake his political life on realizing reform, has shown no sign of rolling up his sleeves to deal with the situation.
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Don't waste time
As long as a prime minister who has lost the ability to win the people's hearts and minds stays in power, bureaucrats and their organizations don't want to act for him and even the ruling party itself cannot be united.
At this time of emergency, the valuable Diet schedule should not be wasted.
During the extended session, both the ruling and opposition parties must try to quickly realize the minimum necessary measures, such as enactment of the special bonds bill and passage of a second supplementary budget for fiscal 2011.
The second supplementary budget includes measures to lessen so-called dual debt loads of quake survivors and create a mechanism to compensate people and businesses affected by the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Lawmakers cannot avoid discussions on revenue sources when deliberating a third supplementary budget, which will focus on full-scale restoration measures to revitalize quake-hit areas. It is reasonable for a third supplementary budget to be compiled under a new political framework with a new prime minister.
Boost engineers' spirits with supercomputer project
In the brightest news for some time, Japan has demonstrated its scientific and technological prowess to the world.
The K computer, which is being jointly developed by the government-backed research institute RIKEN and Fujitsu Ltd., has been ranked the world's fastest in computing speed.
Japanese supercomputers were ranked the fastest for three years in a row from 2002 to 2004, but fell behind supercomputers from the United States or China in the following years.
It is indeed wonderful to recapture the No. 1 title for the first time in seven years, thanks to the cooperation among industry, government and academia.
Development of the K computer started in 2006 as a government project, with an estimated cost of 112 billion yen. The project is being carried out in Kobe, with the developers aiming to finish by June 2012.
The "K" in the name stands for the targeted calculation speed of 10 quadrillion (or one kei in Japanese) per second. The computer has performed 8.162 quadrillion calculations per second, more than three times faster than the Chinese supercomputer that was ranked No. 1 in 2010 and No. 2 this year.
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Delays quickly overcome
In the wake of the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake, makers of the supercomputer's key components in Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures suffered severe damage, raising fears, at one stage, that development of the supercomputer would be delayed significantly. They soon recovered, however, demonstrating the resilience of Japanese manufacturers.
Supercomputers--used for a wide range of purposes, from automobile and aircraft design to the development of new drugs--are said to reflect the scientific and technological capabilities of a nation.
After it goes into service, the K computer is expected to invigorate various research and development circles, as well as the industrial sector as a whole.
We hope the world's fastest computer will be fully utilized in dealing with natural disasters as well.
If its high-speed calculation capabilities are properly utilized, more detailed weather forecasts and predictions of potential damage from tsunami become possible, enhancing disaster-management capabilities.
We recommend that the government ask the general public for ideas in using the supercomputer.
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Survived budget screening
During the budget screening of government projects in the autumn of 2009, it was suggested that the development of the K computer should be "put on hold." Renho, state minister in charge of government revitalization, said, "Isn't it good enough to be the world's No. 2 [in supercomputers]?"
Her remark created a stir with critics accusing the ruling Democratic Party of Japan of shortsightedly seeking immediate results. Although the development of the supercomputer was not frozen, the budget was trimmed. Cutting the budget probably provided the incentive needed for the engineers to proceed with the project come what may.
The supercomputer is being developed in the face of severe international competition. The government must also come up with middle- and long-term development plans in the days ahead.
"After all, Japan has to aim at becoming No. 1 in the world of science and technology. Promoting these fields is crucial for Japan," said Ryoji Noyori, RIKEN president and winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
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