On Japan's Elections

First, A couple of pieces from today's Financial Times.  This one focuses on the "business community's" fears of the newly-elected Democratic Party of Japan, especially regarding temporary workers.  Temps have been notoriously exploited during the long process culminating in Japanese companies (especially big exporters) returning to profitability, and have been rewarded for their labors by being let go en masse since the crash.  The DPJ has promised to ease their lot, but it's an open question whether or not they're serious or capable of standing firm on this and other issues important to business.

The second is about what the DPJ victory may mean by way of foreign policy.  The DPJ has pledged that it will pursue a more independent (of the US) foreign policy than its predecessor, the Liberal Democratic Party, even to the point of reaching out to China.  This would constitute a huge step in the development of Asian foreign relations, and one must ask whether or not the old cliche about Japan buying nuclear protection from the US by purchasing its ever-less valuable bonds will continue to hold true.

The FT's David Pilling is an excellent observer of Asia.  Here he writes interestingly on the DPJ victory's potential impact on the Japanese ruling classes and bureacracy.

Finally, Karel van Wolferen is another fine observer of the Japanese scene, who has written about Japan in New Left Review and other fine publications.  Here he meditates on the prospects for real change after the election.