-----------------------------------------------------------<br>Every PBXL wireless phone comes standard with:<br>a big color screen,<br>a 03 Tokyo number,<br>voicemail,<br>and more!<br><br>Everything you expect from the best office phone system<br>
on the market.<br><br>Call today! 03-4550-2557<br>Get your new phone system in 3 steps: <a href="http://www.pbxl.jp/plans">http://www.pbxl.jp/plans</a><br><br>PBXL is Hosted Business Telephony<br>Monthly seminars at Cisco HQ: <a href="http://www.pbxl.jp/seminarstt">http://www.pbxl.jp/seminarstt</a><br>
More about PBXL: <a href="http://www.pbxl.jp/aboutus2">http://www.pbxl.jp/aboutus2</a><br>-----------------------------------------------------------<br><br>The last week has been a nice diversion for the majority of the<br>
nation’s press and the public at large. Reporting on the dismal state <br>of the economy or the government’s inadequate response to the <br>downturn was getting old. So when the dramatics of the latest <br>political scandal, this time involving the Dark Prince of Japanese <br>
democracy himself, Ichiro Ozawa, hit the presses, the feeding <br>frenzy that followed, was well, to be expected.<br><br>After the dust settled, about two thirds of voters were still calling<br>for Ozawa’s head (according to the latest Kyodo News survey, anyway).<br>
The survey went on to report that Prime Minister Taro Aso’s approval<br>rating increased by eight points to 23.7 percent. It’s phenomenal to<br>think that the PM’s rating was below 10 percent a month or so ago.<br>There’s nothing like “the great equalizer” - not death, but rather the<br>
opposition’s ability to implode. This time however it wasn’t Ozawa<br>giving the thumbs up to a “grand coalition” between the two seemingly<br>opposed parties in what is essentially a two-party system. This time<br>it was a more old-fashioned corruption scandal.<br>
<br>When Ozawa’s top aide and accountant for his political fund Takanori<br>Okubo, was taken into custody on suspicion of knowingly falsely<br>reporting donations from Nishimatsu Construction, it started a rocky<br>few days for the DPJ. The dramatics culminated in Ozawa’s teary<br>
refusal to resign on Tuesday. All the foreign newspapers are labeling<br>the press conference as “defiant.” The Japanese papers are meanwhile<br>baring their teeth and drooling in anticipation of another meal following <br>
the feasts of Fukuda and Abe. Ozawa will stay on for now. But it’s on <br>the proviso that the DPJ’s popularity doesn’t bottom out. Commentator <br>Jun Okumura gives a wrap up of the editorials of the major Japanese <br>press <a href="http://son-of-gadfly-on-the-wall.blogspot.com/2009/03/mainstream-media-mostly-calls-for.html">here</a>.<br>
<br>Most want Ozawa to quit. All except the Yomiuri. You may all recall<br>that Yomiuri kingmaker Tsuneo Watanabe convened that secret meeting<br>between ex-PM Fukuda and Ozawa to discuss the grand coalition idea - a<br>massive regression in the minds of most voters (probably due to the<br>
fact they would cease to be actual voters if this coalition became<br>reality). There was another press conference called at this time when<br>an equally defiant Ozawa said that he wouldn’t resign.<br><br>Months passed and luckily PM III Taro Aso’s supreme un-likeableness<br>
caused most of the public to quickly forget the whole coalition<br>fiasco. A good thing for the DPJ as well, considering that they had<br>moved into pole position by about three laps.<br><br>Of course, now the LDP is back in the game. Aso may still have to go<br>
but he has some breathing space at last. The list of possible<br>replacements isn’t exactly extensive but it seems to be longer than<br>the DPJ’s. As mentioned in a previous JIN, I believe that Yuriko Koike<br>could be a popular answer to the LDP’s leadership woes. Could it be<br>
the time for Japan’s first female PM?<br><br>Back at DPJ HQ, the sometimes fractious members of the opposition <br>remained silent in the face of the storm. At the first meeting of the<br>Democratic Party of Japan's steering committee after the arrest of<br>
Toshinori, there was little said by the attending party members. They<br>managed to keep their mouths shut afterwards too, when probed by the<br>press.<br><br>It’s no secret that Ozawa is feared (by his own party as much as by<br>
the ruling party). Even so, the silence was an interesting gap in the<br>noise surrounding the whole affair. There were certainly no leadership<br>contenders making their voices heard. If Ozawa resigned, would that be<br>
the end of the DPJ (as far as a real alternative)? Ozawa is the<br>undisputed king of the party but are there any others who could fill<br>his shoes? For now we won’t know. But in the time leading up to the<br>next election, depending on what the opinion polls say, the DPJ may<br>
have to produce another contender. This close to the end of what has<br>been a brutal, one-sided (and brilliantly executed) campaign by Ozawa,<br>it’s hard to believe that he will limp so badly towards the finish<br>line.<br>
<br>Michael Condon<br>Editor-in-chief<br><p>----------------- Web Hosting in Japan --------------------</p>
<p>With prices comparable to those available in the US, and a<br>
full range of hosting services, there is no need to put up with<br>
slow-downloading websites hosted overseas anymore.</p>
<p>With nearly 10 years experience in the Japanese market,<br>
Tsukaeru.net provides great value for money to both the<br>
Japanese and English speaking clients.<br>
We provide low cost shared hosting accounts from just 210<br>
yen per month,to fully managed complex hosting.</p>
<p>Customers moving from our competitors receive<br>
up to JPY10,000 cashback on completion of migration.</p>
<p><a href="http://tsukaeru.net/en" title="http://tsukaeru.net/en">http://tsukaeru.net/en</a><br>
Isao 050-3533-8241</p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------<br>
Entrepreneur Association of Tokyo Seminar-Tuesday, April 7th</p>
<p>Speaker: Martin van der Linden-Founder and Principal<br>
of van der Architects<br>
Seminar Title: 'Design, Business and Creativity'</p>
<p>Martin established van der Architects in 2000 and focuses<br>
on corporate interior design using a unique methodology he<br>
created called WorkVitamins. This methodology helps his clients<br>
leverage the work environment to motivate the staff and improve<br>
productivity. His clients include Fortune 500 companies such as<br>
Ernst & Young, ING Group, Societe Generale and WPP Group.<br>
Join us on April 7th to hear Martin's insights into the<br>
relationship between design, creativity, and business.</p>
<p>Please sign up early while seats are available.</p>
<p>Date/Time: Tuesday, April 7th - Doors open at 6:30,<br>
Seminar starts at 7:00<br>
Location: The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan<br>
Language: English<br>
Website: <a href="http://www.ea-tokyo.com/" title="http://www.ea-tokyo.com">http://www.ea-tokyo.com</a></p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------</p>