Tokyo Independence

I read the English newspaper in the morning. It had an article on Ishihara, the governor of Tokyo. I found his initiative fascinating for Japan, almost uppity. He planned to charge banks a local tax of 3%. This would bring some money and power to local governments and break the overriding control of the central government. I read on.

“Ishihara criticized the nation’s centralized political and administrative systems, blaming them for what he called Japan’s ‘crisis situation.’

“ ‘They have blocked the independence of local governments, firms and individuals, have discouraged the birth of new ideas and the drive to challenge the status quo,’ Ishihara said. ‘Present-day Japan has lost its ability to decide its own fate.’ ”

Go for it, dude! While not optimistic about his odds for success, I considered it remarkable that he was exposing himself as a voice for change in a society where strict adherence to dogma was rewarded. This, in politics, in Tokyo! I admired the man and wished him well.