JRP Co-leader Toru Hashimoto’s Staged Resignation Threat BY ISAO MORI
July 29, 2013
Isao Mori was born in 1961. He is a journalist and a non-fiction author. The years 2008 and 2009 respectively saw him bestowed with the”Zasshi Janarizumu-sho Sakuhin-sho” (Magazine Journalism Work Award). He wrote the book “Kyo Eichu Nihon no Yami wo Seoi-Tsuzuketa Otoko” (Eichu Kyo: Bearing the Brunt of the Japanese Underworld) (Kodansha). His blog is as follows: http://mori13.blog117.fc2.com/
Photograph: Toru Hashimoto (Wikimedia Commons / Author: Ogiyoshisan)
I am going to give my casual impressions about trends within the Japan Restoration Party. The outcome of the party executives meeting held on the 27th, where co-leader Toru Hashimoto had to announce his resignation in order to “devote himself to the Osaka Metropolis plan” along with secretary general Ichiro Matsui, and where Shintaro Ishihara and Takeo Hiranuma had to persuade him to abandon his intention was predictable. It was but a staged farce. In fact, given that he knew from the start that he would be urged to maintain his post, he announced his resignation to just withdraw it soon after. As it matches his habitual ways, Hashimoto gave an expressive comment asking: “is it truly all right like this?”
However, far from what he expected, didn’t most of the public coldly receive the news, especially in Tokyo where people adopted a do-it-as-you-please attitude? The last resignation threat was certainly intended for the public of Osaka, Hashimoto’s sole support. This shows that Hashimoto is still projecting to turn around the situation to his advantage. In this sense, the upcoming Sakai City mayor election of September is going to be a test of evaluation.
[Excerpt from the blog: “Mori Isao no Blog”]
(Translated from Japanese by Willy Lukebana Toko)
