Even so, it was a tremendous avalanche that hit the LDP . Voters gave her full authority, saying, "Takaichi-san, you can now do whatever you want. Do your best." It is not clear who cleverly started the fever, but this is clearly fascism. Japan's parliament has become a Imperial Rule Assistance Association filled with right-wingers.
The signs were in the actions of Ms. A, a woman in her 70s who lives directly opposite. She says she had "no interest in politics before," but since the end of last year she has been holed up in her house watching YouTube shows featuring Sanae Takaichi all day . When the general election came around, she called on friends and acquaintances to form a mini-support group and follow Takaichi around on the campaign trail, "putting her political life on the line. "
The grassroots movement that gave birth to Takaichi fascism appears to have been supported by people like Ms. A, who was enthralled by Takaichi's call to "create a prosperous and strong Japan." She says, "Visiting Yasukuni Shrine is a must. We need to revise the constitution as soon as possible so that we can become a normal country. An anti-espionage law is a must." This enthusiasm is likely to turn into energy for the belief in "the immortal Imperial Nation of Japan."
The late Shinzo Abe stated in a Diet response that he had not "clearly read" the Potsdam Declaration . Abe may have made this statement intentionally in order to reject the Potsdam system, but it's also possible that he hadn't actually read it carefully. If that's the case, then the majority of voters this time likely don't even know what the Potsdam Declaration is. Mr. A looked confused.
The Potsdam Declaration was issued on July 26, 1945, at the end of World War II, by the United States and other Allied powers, urging Japan to surrender unconditionally . The core of the declaration was the establishment of a democratic government in Japan . However, for the leadership of the Empire of Japan at the time, a democratic government was a denial of the national polity. This is because democracy is the idea that "sovereignty resides with the people, the government exists for the people, and power is limited." This directly clashes with the absolute value system that had existed since the Meiji era , which was based on the sovereignty of the Emperor, the preservation of the national polity, and the supremacy of the state .
Japan is said to have accepted the Potsdam Declaration on August 15, 1945. However, what Japan accepted was the "Potsdam Declaration without democracy." This concept is crucial for understanding modern Japanese history, yet it can be said to be a "blind spot" that has rarely been discussed.
The Japanese Empire still lives on in the hearts of right-wing Japanese nationalists. They did not "accept" the Potsdam Declaration; they merely "accepted it in name only, on the condition that the national polity be maintained." The prewar national outlook, governing culture, and elite mentality have been preserved. Therefore, official visits to Yasukuni Shrine, constitutional revision, radical military strengthening, and the enactment of the Anti-Espionage Law (Peace Preservation Law) must now be achieved as soon as possible.
However... the Potsdam Declaration was drafted by the then US Secretary of State. It was the US occupying forces that worked on Japan's democratization, including the current constitution. The US, on a bipartisan basis, is strongly wary of the Abe-Takaichi line. This is because the US is aware that the Abe faction's true intentions are "anti-American." The Trump administration supports Takaichi because she will follow them with anything, including "a massive increase in defense spending, lifting the ban on arms and military technology exports , 80 trillion yen in investment in the US, technology transfers to the US, and corporate governance reforms for US capital." America's true intention is to "weaken Japan so that it would never again defy us."
The Takaichi administration will not defy the United States. For over 80 years, it has been hamstrung by the heavy yoke of defeat. It cannot make an official visit to Yasukuni Shrine, which would negate the Potsdam system. The United States has quietly issued a directive saying, "Do not revise the Peace Constitution," making it impossible to carry out constitutional revision. Saying "no" to the United States, which continues to demand donations and tributes, would mean the end of not only one's political life but one's physical life as well. Abe's assassination made this abundantly clear.
On the other hand, if Takaichi's pro-American stance becomes apparent, such as by canceling her visit to Yasukuni Shrine, the Takaichi fever will inevitably die down rapidly. With a weak base within the party, if she becomes useless as a face in elections, the first female prime minister who "broke the glass ceiling" will likely not last even a year. The media's artificial image of Takaichi's one-man rule is hollow.
Regarding the impossibility of constitutional reform, see this blog post
Regarding Trump's view of Japan,
Regarding Takaichi's view of Yasukuni Shrine,
Please refer to the following.