= Japanese Democratization = A history of '''Japanese democratization'''. <> ---- == Imperial Japan == Civil service exams were instituted in the [[Japan/Mutsuhito|Meiji era]] to promote a professional and prestigious bureaucracy. Todai Law earned and maintained a reputation for producing students capable of passing the exams. Similar to Harvard and Yale in the United States, it is now entrenched in national policymaking. ---- == Occupation == The [[UnitedStates|United States]] established [[Japan/GHQ|GHQ]] to govern Japan during the occupation. [[Japan/Hirohito|Hirohito]] was backed as the legitimate head of state, though he was forced to renounce godhood. The Japanese military and the '''Kenpaitai''' (''憲兵隊'') were abolished. Police powers were decentralized. The ministries of [[Japan/MinistryOfWar|the Army]], [[Japan/MinistryOfTheNavy|the Navy]], and [[Japan/HomeMinistry|Home]] (''Naimushou'') were abolished. Apart from these, most of the [[Japan/Ministries|government]] was left as-is. As a result, the bureaucracy was effectively empowered. While ministers were elected members of the Diet, all other members of a ministry (up to and including vice ministers) were career bureaucrats. This led to a functional structure similar to the IMF; the minister as a figurehead, the vice minister as the ''de facto'' head. This status was maintained by the '''amakudari''' system, whereby retiring bureaucrats were gifted a job by the vice minister exercising their high-level connections to corporate boards. In the political power vacuum, leftist grassroots leaders quickly gained influence. A '''Red Purge''' began in 1949, and earlier sanction were lifted from major right-wing politicians who could counter the popularity of communism. ---- == Modern Democracy == Self-rule returned in 1952 following the '''Treaty of San Francisco'''. === Effective Single Party Democracy === The [[Japan/LiberalDemocraticParty|LDP]] formed in 1955 and held power continuously until 1993. [[Japan/JapanSocialistParty|JSP]] served as the opposition throughout the LDP dominance. Politicians, especially within the LDP, made extensive use of '''koenkai''' (''後援会'') for campaign finance and voter mobilization. Over time koenkai became vertically-integrated political machines. === First Loss of Power === In the [[Japan/1993GeneralElections|1993 elections]], in the context of the stagflating economy and the '''Recruit scandal''', the LDP lost enough seats for a grand coalition government to form. [[Japan/MorihiroHosokawa|Hosokawa]] led this government for 8 months, following which [[Japan/TsutomuHata|Hata]] led for 2 months. The government fell in June when the LDP, JSP, and [[Japan/NewPartySakigake|New Party Sakigake]] joined to form a new coalition. [[Japan/TomiichiMurayama|Murayama]] served as prime minister for 2 years, then handed power back to the LDP under [[Japan/RyuutarouHashimoto|Hashimoto]]. The coalition then devolved into a confidence and supply agreement. The remaining grand coalition members consolidated into the [[Japan/NewFrontierParty|New Frontier Party]] and served as the opposition. Hashimoto hoped to regain control of the House of Councilors as well in the [[Japan/1998HouseOfCouncillorsElections|1998 elections]]. Instead the LDP lost seats, and Hashimoto resigned. === First Return to Power === [[Japan/KeizouObuchi|Obuchi]] formed a coalition government with the [[Japan/LiberalParty1998|Liberal Party]] in January 1999. In October, [[Japan/Komeito|Komeito]] joined as well. Obuchi died in office and [[Japan/YoshirouMori|Mori]] became prime minister. The Mori government was plagued by scandals while a reformist faction was ascendent within the party. The '''YKK faction''', composed of [[Japan/JunichiroKoizumi|Koizumi]], Koichi Kato (加藤 紘一), and Taku Yamasaki (山崎 拓), were serious contenders in the leadership contests of 1999 and 2000. The latter two gambled on a doomed vote of no confidence, but Koizumi was well positioned for the leadership contest following Mori's resignation. Koizumi ushered in a new era of popularity for the LDP, and resigned at the end of his party leadership term. [[Japan/ShinzoAbe|Abe]] became prime minister after Koizumi. In the context of deteriorating health and losing the majority in the [[Japan/2007HouseOfCouncillorsElections|2007 elections]], he resigned in September. === Second Loss of Power === === Second Return to Power === ---- CategoryRicottone