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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Copying U.S. 'revolving door' between business and government
Akahata 'Current' column

Revolving doors are a problem and their existence makes me nervous. However, the revolving door is seen as instrumental in providing a smooth passage from business to government and back again.

The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), a business lobby, is calling for revolving doors to be made more available between the government and business sectors. What Nippon Keidanren specifically has in mind is revolving doors for so-called "policy entrepreneurs."

Nippon Keidanren's policy proposal entitled "Envisioning a Vibrant, Attractive Nation in the Twenty-First Century" states that Nippon Keidanren will create policy entrepreneurs. The "policy entrepreneurs" are able people with talents and ambitions that are necessary for taking on positions as cabinet ministers, Dietmembers, and senior government officials.

Nippon Keidanren has borrowed the idea from the United States, where administration officials are reshuffled when a new president takes office. It wants to make it easy for talented people in the private sector to enter officialdom, and return to the private sector when the government changes. While they are in the private sector, they will further develop their skills at institutes or universities in Japan or abroad.

Matsushita Institute of Government and Management established in 1979 by Matsushita Konosuke, the founder of Matsushita Electric, is well known for its programs to bring up young politicians. As of July 2005, there are 30 Dietmembers, 8 for the Liberal Democratic Party and 22 for the Democratic Party of Japan, who are Matsushita graduates. Nippon Keidanren envisages bringing up able personnel with the backing of business circles in the business, academic, and bureaucratic worlds who are ready to take up jobs in the executive branch or the legislative branch of government.

In the past, money used to determine the relationship between the political and business worlds. In its new "vision," Nippon Keidanren expresses hope that this relationship will be strengthened with both money and talented people. Business circles are seeking to use the Koizumi-style government as an instrument to meet the needs of business sectors by hijacking politics. -- Akahata, September 3, 2005