Japan Press Weekly

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2013 June 5 - 11 [POLITICS]

Cozy ties between politicians and business leaders restored under ‘Abenomics’

Under the planned spending for large-scale public works projects set forth by the “Abenomics” economic policy, ruling parties’ politicians have restored their cozy ties with top government bureaucrats and business leaders.

The restoration of their cozy relationship was vividly illustrated at a party hosted by the Japan Road Contractors Association (JRCA) at a hotel near the Diet building on May 21. Senior Vice Minister of Infrastructure Tsuruho Yosuke and Komei Party President Yamaguchi Natsuo took part in the gathering with other Dietmembers and bureaucrats of the infrastructure ministry.

JRCA Chairman Miyoshi Takeo in his speech said, “Thanks to the large increase in the supplementary budget passed by the new cabinet, we see a sign of improvement in the environment for the road construction industry.”

The JRCA involves about 160 road construction-related companies. In its FY 2012 business plan, it pledged to request the government to construct highway networks “in order to build a strong nation promoting nationwide disaster prevention.”

The FY 2012 supplementary budget of 13.1 trillion yen enacted in January includes the construction of urban beltways as called for by the JRCA, such as the Tokyo Outer Ring Road at a cost of 100 million yen per meter.

Under its plan to “strengthen the nation’s infrastructure,” the ruling Liberal Democratic Party pledges to use 200 trillion yen over the next 10 years for large public works projects. The LDP’s coalition partner Komei Party calls for public projects costing 100 trillion yen over the next 10 years as “disaster prevention” measures.

Related past article:
> Gov’t to use extra budget for unnecessary large public works projects (January 16, 2013)