Word: kaifu
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...response, Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu and his colleagues in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party rushed to soothe the country's concern. Ignoring catcalls and jeers from the opposition benches, Kaifu explained that the bill was merely a device by which Japan could "cooperate with the peace-promotion activities sanctioned by a U.N. resolution." The corps, he said, would "not use force or the threat of force," and he denied that he was trying to circumvent the constitution...
...opposition was far from convinced. Takako Doi, leader of the Japan Socialist Party, the largest opposition group, called the legislation the "greatest threat to the constitution since the war." Student organizations staged peace demonstrations. Even some members of Kaifu's own party suggested that if the legislation failed, the Prime Minister and his Cabinet should resign and an election should be called as a referendum on the issue. Said Yozo Yokota, a law professor at International Christian University: "This is a historic turning point in Japanese politics and diplomacy...
...York Congressman Charles Rangel said such remarks were becoming a "national sport in Japan." For Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu, preparing for a U.S. trip, Kajiyama's words were ill timed. Kaifu already has to take heat for Japan's reluctance to participate in the gulf, where, U.S. politicians point out, blacks are among those protecting Tokyo's oil interests. Kajiyama quickly apologized. Or did he? He retracted his statement, saying it was inappropriate for him to comment on U.S. race problems, but he never said he was sorry...
...keeping the world safe for Japanese exports and investments. The political system depends, sometimes to the point of paralysis, on consensus. The prime ministership has rarely been a bully pulpit, especially in recent years. After a massive stock-trading scandal, the shoguns of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party chose Kaifu in 1989 not just because he was untainted. He was untested and unthreatening as well, a caretaker who would be easy to push around and eventually to push aside...
Earlier this year Kaifu showed signs of being a lot better than that. Demonstrating unexpected skill and boldness, he engineered major progress in trade talks with the U.S. This week he could advance both his own standing and his country's by bringing more than just his checkbook to his meeting with Bush...