Tarō's Nightmarish Choices - a review

OK, OK, calm down

Hatoyama Kunio, the angel of death, the clown prince of law enforcement


is NOT reappointed to the Ministry of Law. Instead he will be messing with the nation's telecommunications systems and center-local administrative relations.

Don't panic.

Yet.

Panic tomorrow.

As for the other choices, what can be said?

True to predictions and our worst fears, Nakagawa Shōichi has been named Finance Minister. In order to double the fun and quadruple the insanity, he will be also in charge of the Financial Services Agency - completely defeating the point of the hiving off of the Agency from the Ministry of Finance a decade ago.

Be very, very afraid.

Now I love Obuchi Yūko...who doesn't? However, the daughter of the former prime minister is all of 34 years old and has a one-year old to care for. Naming her the State Minister in charge of Measures Dealing With Fall in the Birthrate is a neat gesture--but it is only a gesture.

And what's with the former prime minister's kids club? Nakasone Hirofumi, one of the ringleaders of the House of Councillors vote against the privatization of the Post Office and son of former Prime Minister Nakasone Yasuhiro will take over from Kōmura Masahiko at the Foreign Ministry.

The sins of the father should not be visited upon the son...which is a good thing if you are Hamada Seichi Yasukazu, the incoming Minister of Defense. His father, Hamada Kōichi, is a notorious, maudlin street fighter of a politician now mercifully retired to appearing on Beat Takeshi's Terebi Takuru and other evening fare.

As for the appointment of Nakayama Nariaki, a man with a most peculiar view of certain episodes of 20th century history, as the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, I shall keep my peace.