This has become an “I told you so” story. People who were opposed to Kada joining hands with Ichiro Ozawa must be repeating this a lot.
Most of us can recognize that Governor Kada had good intentions for Shiga from the start, and that she was only victimized by a expert political manipulator and an overwhelming political machine. Her opponents view her as neglecting her gubernatorial duties and seeking national attention.
On Jan. 4, 2013, the first work day, Shiga Governor Yukiko Kada announced that she was resigning from her Tomorrow Party of Japan (Mirai no To) political party that she and Ichiro Ozawa formed a little over a month ago.
Ozawa has enhanced his reputation as a political party “destroyer.” This goes to show that politicians mainly care about themselves and the huge government subsidies (over 800 million yen to Ozawa’s party) given to political parties rather than the people and the country. They spend much time and thought on how to get ahead politically, how to increase their numbers, and then if they have time, they might think about us.
Tomorrow Party of Japan’s Diet numbers shrank from 61 seats to only 9. When the party was formed, Ozawa told Gov. Kada that they would secure 100 seats. He lied, and Kada now reflects that she shouldn’t have believed him. One thing for sure, Ozawa’s political influence is on the decline even though he got re-elected.
Basically, the Ozawa camp were unable to manipulate Kada as the party head. They thought she could be their puppet. But when they found that she had her righteous ideals and could not be molded, they cut her off. They say that they split the party between Ozawa and Kada or that Ozawa left the party. Not really so. Ozawa ousted Governor Kada, took over the party (offices and infrastructure), changed the name, took almost all the Diet seat winners (thereby receiving a huge subsidy for political parties having at least 5 members) and left Kada with only the party’s old name and one Diet seat.
Related news articles:
Nippon Mirai breaks up as Ozawa, allies veer off
Ozawa, Diet cohorts keep party, subsidy, leave Shiga Gov. Kada with Nippon Mirai name only
Kada rues falling for Ozawa’s 100-seat victory overture
