Opinion

Former Finn goes to the Diet

By Tony Laszlo

There is one less comedian in the Japanese Diet. Kyosen Ohashi's resignation from the Upper House came only months after voters overwhelmingly selected him for the job. Judging from his final remarks about wanting to "drop a bombshell," it is apparent that the semi-retired entertainer's actions were intended to shock the nation into a realization: the state of affairs in Nagata-cho is unbearable.

Somehow I think we already knew that. Yes, it seems that lies, swindles and cover-ups are terribly in vogue, now more than ever. But Ohashi's act of throwing away a seat entrusted to him by some 400,000 people — in order to announce that things are not right — seemed more like a bad joke than a step toward quality representation.

Ohashi's retreat did bring with it a pleasant surprise, however. For the seat he vacated was filled by Marutei Tsurunen, the candidate next in line from the Democratic Party. After four frustrating election campaigns, the gentleman from Kanagawa suddenly found himself in a position to be the people's choice. Not their first choice, but their choice, just the same.

Tsurunen was born in Finland in 1940 and took Japanese nationality in 1979. He is neither the first foreign-born Diet member, nor the first to have naturalized. But he is one of very few Diet members whose native tongue is not Japanese (Shigeru Kayano, who addressed a committee in Ainu during his tenure, is another). And he is, as he says, "the first Westerner in the Diet."

So what can we expect of this new Upper House representative? When I spoke with him recently, he told me that he had made two public commitments regarding foreigners' rights. He wants to give foreign residents the right to participate in local elections and he thinks that foreign workers who are now in the country illegally but who are cur rently employed should be permit ted to stay on as legal residents.

A rather progressive platform, to be sure, but it would be a mistake to assume that Tsurunen will be thinking solely about foreigners. In order to get re-elected he will have to reach out to his constituency. That is one reason why he is working to introduce new environmental legislation, as well. While foreigners' rights are important, his ideas for recycling will probably have a broader appeal.

It is fair to assume that Tsurunen's value system is strongly influenced by his Finnish upbringing. Likewise, his fundamental understanding of the world was probably shaped largely by his formative years at Finnish schools. And he has experienced life in Japan as a foreigner. Combined, these characteristics are potentially a unique resource from which he — and indirectly, the other Diet members and Japanese society — may benefit.

Tsurunen's presence in the Diet is also important because his physical features and his Finnish accent will help to remind the other Diet members that Japanese society is becoming more diverse. Increased recognition of diversity — and of its power — may lead to an increase of women in the Diet and in the Cabinet. Japan is still way behind many other nations in that department.

We will have to wait to see whether or not Tsurunen will make a profound impact on Japan's national politics. But Japan could do a lot worse. One thing is for sure: he's no joker.

Shukan ST: March 8, 2002

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