Conversations That Matter

Author: Kip Cheroutes

I am lucky in my professional association with MGA to do business with and in Japan. Because of long nurtured congressional relationships, I do business in the Japanese Capitol Hill of Tokyo. Given my background, I can even compare and contrast the experience with Capitol Hill in Washington, even down to the employees’ cafeteria.

Why Japan? During my staff aide days with U.S. Rep. Patricia Schroeder we hosted an energetic Japanese student in the U.S. on a political science fellowship. Afterwards she and I, with no background in Japan, kept in friendly touch. She eventually became a member of the Japanese Parliament and to repay kindness, opened doors to fascinating opportunities in higher education, aerospace and the environment.

I had an inside view of the political aftermath after Japan’s historic September 2009 election for a party which, after 50 years, is now out of power. What I saw was this. Many voters voted just to make a change. That change happened to be for the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), a neophyte party, U.S. Democrat leaning, with a poorly defined message platform against an ossified Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), U.S. Republican leaning, with no message platform.

Why did voters want change? Simple, times are bad and the United States made a change a year earlier. What’s strange is that according to news clips, voters were quick to say they were not sold on the new party and would consider voting for LDP candidates the next time. Next time is about four years away under this parliamentary system. Power will shift back once the LDP gets into gear or once the DPJ gets into trouble.

Trouble has already started. Two party sub-leaders are already under arrest for campaign fraud. The powerful party leader won’t last long. The polling numbers are down close to 40%. The LDP strategy is just to wait. Watch my future blogs for updates and commentary.

The moral of this story? Maintain your relationships and look for associated opportunity in everything you do.