Program Contents (September 5th, 2009)

"Change of Power (1)"
- Political-led Government -

The House of Representatives election was held on August 30th, 2009. With an overwhelming victory, the Democratic Party acquired 308 parliamentary seats, resulting in a change of administration. How will Japan change under the administration of the Democratic Party? The Democratic Party aims for "Political Leadership" as the form of the administration. They plan to drastically review political and government relations. The bureaucratic battling with the Democratic Party before the new administration begins… How will "Political Leadership" be achieved? We will adhere to the movements of the change in government.

"Change of Power (1)"
- How will "living" and the "economy" change? -

Raising "Living First" as their platform, the Democratic Party won a landslide election over the Liberal Democratic Party. The new administration pledged its manifest, arranging a 16.8 trillion yen ($180.76 billion) policy directly supporting per capita income compensation of agriculture and housekeeping expenses such as a yearly allowance of 310,000 Yen ($3,000) per child and gratuitousness conversion of public high schools. However, reducing public works to secure funds and raising the minimum wage to protect workers, have raised concerns of influencing the economy in a negative manner. How will the administration under the Democratic Party change the lives of the Japanese? What are the medium long term economic policies prone to be like? We will be asking the Democratic Party.

"Change of Power (3)"
- Fate of Japan’s foreign policy -

The Democratic Party of Japan achieved historic change of government. However, concerns such as "concrete content cannot be seen" in regards to foreign policy have been raised since during the election. Having an allied relationship with Japan for nearly a half century, the United States starts to voice its concern, worrying that major changes toward the current U.S. policy may be made. Meanwhile, unable to propose a common policy in the field of diplomacy before election, the Social Democratic Party of Japan began coalition talks with the People's New Party of Japan. What will become of US-Japan relations under the Democratic Party of Japan's Administration? How will it deal with pressing diplomatic issues such as the North Korean problem and the refueling extension of the Self Defense Force dispatched in the Indian Ocean? We ask the executive officer of the Democratic Party of Japan.

"JAPAN VIDEO TOPICS"
- No "Today's Closeup" this week -

Episode #18: "Lettuce From a Factory"
Agriculture today faces problems from abnormal weather to chemical overuse that cause concern about the safety and reliable supply of our daily vegetables. One promising solution is the “plant factory,” where food is grown indoors in a computer-controlled environment. Vertical stacked growing beds produce far greater amounts of crops than regular farms of the same area, while pest-free sealed environments simplify organic cultivation. New technologies are making factory-grown cultivation safer, more nutritious and more efficient than conventional farming.

Episode #19: "Hiking the Shinetsu Trail"
This newly completed hiking trail runs for 80 km through the Sekida mountains, an easily accessible range of 1,000 m peaks covered with old forests of Japanese buna beech trees. These woods, filled with springs, lakes and ponds, are unique for being almost entirely free from other tree species, and also for the way they have been shaped and polished by the region's heavy winter snowfall. The Shinetsu Trail is open year-round, and is a wonderfully convenient way to explore the delights of nature in Japan.

Episode #20: "How Old Firms Survive"
Japan has a very large number of old family firms still prospering a century or more after their founding. The secret to the success and survival of these firms through both good times and bad appears to be an attitude that combines respect for traditional skills and techniques with an open-minded readiness to react to changing conditions by adopting new methods and businesses.

Episode #21: "Eating on the Train - Ekiben Boxedmeals"
No Japanese holiday trip by train feels complete without enjoying an ekiben, the special boxed lunches sold on trains and platforms and at station stores. Eating a delicious ekiben as the scenery glides past is guaranteed to get anyone into a holiday mood. And since these boxed meals are always produced locally with fresh regional ingredients, they make an excellent and inexpensive introduction to the cuisine of the areas you visit.

Episode #22: "The lake that inspired Tale of Genji"
Lake Biwa is Japan’s largest lake. Formed over four million years ago, it is the third oldest lake in the world, and it holds a special place in the hearts of all Japanese. Lake Biwa is home to many kinds of wildlife and the area is protected under the Ramsar Convention for the preservation of wetlands. It is said that the beauty of this lake inspired Lady Murasaki Shikibu to begin writing the Tale of Genji. Created almost a thousand years ago, the Tale of Genji is one of the earliest of the world’s novels. It tells the story of Prince Genji and his many love affairs in the splendid court of the Heian emperor.

Episode #23: "When Mending Becomes an Art"
Mottainai is a traditional Japanese custom of never wasting anything that can be repaired instead. Kintsugi originated 400 years ago as a method for mending broken pottery with a lacquer resin glue, repeatedly polishing many layers of lacquer for a seamless join. Artisans decorated their repairs by adding gold dust to the lacquer, and kintsugi gradually developed into an art form in which the repair actually added beauty and value. Old ceramics mended in this way can be extremely valuable, and the art itself is becoming popular again.