A memorandum examining the gap between the electoral “myth” surrounding Shigeru Ishiba and his political reality. It argues that Japan’s old media, business elites, and intellectual class share the same structural mindset, revealing deeper problems in the postwar Japanese discourse environment.

Memorandum ③: The Electoral Myth and Political Reality of Shigeru Ishiba | The Turntable of Civilization…a blog without equal in the postwar world.
What I realized after writing the above chapter.
…
Is this not self-evident.
Among the Japanese people, the individual most intensely disliked by the overwhelming majority is Shigeru Ishiba.
His appearance, demeanor, and past words and actions—
in every conceivable sense, he stands at the very opposite of what a politician ought to be,
indeed the opposite of a samurai, of bushidō, of gentlemanliness, of intellect, and of discernment.
…
In truth, my evaluation should not merely follow Le Clézio.
An entire double-spread page ought to be filled with a litany of denunciations.
Here I must add several more.
Cowardly, vile, base, obtuse.
Never admitting error under any circumstance.
A self-righteous grand fool, a pro-China sycophant, a spineless opportunist, a creature of honey traps and money traps…
All of these apply equally to the old media, to Keidanren and its kind, to the so-called scholars, and to the so-called cultural figures.
In other words, they are all Shigeru Ishiba.
The reason the old media continues to portray Ishiba favorably is because they are of the exact same species.
They too—until escape becomes impossible, as is evident from the example of Fuji TV—will never admit error.
Yet they bow easily before China.
They are a thoroughly deceitful lot.
This morning, while enjoying my home hot spring bath, I realized something.
The television news programs and wide shows led by NHK and other broadcasters, together with their producers and performers.
The newspapers led by Asahi Shimbun (for now, Sankei Shimbun alone excepted), along with their editorial writers and staff,
are Shigeru Ishiba.
Upon realizing this, I found myself laughing.
Fortune comes to the house of laughter.
A great, roaring laugh.