AFTER KOIZUMI

Below is my comment on the article of "After Koizumi" Page 16　 TIME, July 3, 2006

Although Prime Minister Koizumi maximized his abilities as “a man of destruction” to change the way that Japanese politics was played and achieved some structural reforms such as the privatization of highway and postal-saving system, they fell well short of what he originally planned as his policy pledges.

What lacked in his achievements was a grand design to lead Japan simply because he is simply stubborn to stick his goals, but does not seem to have a firm ideological background with his plain character.

I do hope his successor would pursue higher goals for Japan to lead the world as “a man of creation” with much respect not only from the U.S. but also from neighboring countries as China and Korea.