Japanese Reformers Revamp Democracy Government Proposals Aim to Shift Power from Rural to Urban Voters and Eliminate Political Corruption

Clayton Jones, writer of The Christian Science Monitor, The Christian Science Monitor

UNTIL December, the country with the world's second- largest economy will be absorbed with reinventing its democracy.

Japan's new government has dedicated itself almost solely to revamping politics, from how candidates should campaign to how many parties are needed to stir up debate in a nation long accustomed to one-party and bureaucratic rule.

"The next three months will be a moment of truth for Japanese politics," says Kazuo Aichi, policy director for the Japan Renewal Party. The prime minister, Morihiro Hosokawa, says he will resign if political reform fails to pass parliament by year's end.

Japan's lack of such basic democratic traditions as …

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Publication information: Article title: Japanese Reformers Revamp Democracy Government Proposals Aim to Shift Power from Rural to Urban Voters and Eliminate Political Corruption. Contributors: Clayton Jones, writer of The Christian Science Monitor - Author. Newspaper title: The Christian Science Monitor. Publication date: September 1, 1993. Page number: 1. © 2009 The Christian Science Publishing Society. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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