Published on May 10, 2019.
This essay sharply examines Renhō’s dual nationality issue, the responsibility involved in a person without sole Japanese nationality directly participating in Japanese politics, the abnormality of the Democratic Party leadership election, and the absence of national consciousness.
Touching also on Chinese familism and views of the state, it questions the very foundations of qualification and responsibility in Japanese politics.

2019-05-10
Naturally, the Chinese have never had, nor will they likely ever have, a nationalism that places value on the state. Seen in that flow, Renhō can hardly be expected to possess any national consciousness.
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
Renhō’s dual nationality is a Chinese-style disposition.
The issue of dual nationality surfaced regarding the woman Renhō, who was elected leader of the Democratic Party.
There was the raising of the matter by Yawata Kazuo and others, and afterward the Sankei Shimbun and others reported on it widely.
Formally speaking, this issue seemed for the time being to settle when she made public part of a copy of her family register showing the date of her declaration choosing Japanese nationality, October 7, Heisei 28.
But the matter does not end there.
There remains the question of responsibility for the fact that until now a foreigner, since our country does not recognize dual nationality, directly took part in Japanese politics.
And in response to that, there remains the question of how she is to take responsibility.
This cannot simply be let pass without question.
There are cases in the civil service where foreigners are appointed.
For example, in the case of researchers at universities and the like.
Researchers are engaged only in research and education, and therefore do not directly affect ordinary citizens.
But in the case of politicians, they direct and constrain the Japanese people.
If so, then naturally politicians must be Japanese.
There is no reason why we should be directed or constrained by foreigners.
And yet, Renhō was a cabinet minister during the Democratic Party administration.
Clearly, a foreigner directed Japanese people.
This cannot be tolerated.
And in response to such criticism from us, she wore a perfectly unconcerned expression.
It was a face that said, “So what?”
In that attitude, in fact, the Chinese sense of everyday life is revealed.
The reason is as follows.
Historically and traditionally, the Chinese have been family-centered, and even now that basic character has not changed.
However, that “family” within family-centrism differs from the ten or so relatives of the modern Japanese nuclear family.
It is a family counted in the hundreds or thousands.
It is a clan.
This clan solidarity is strong, and they live by mutual aid, financially as well.
They do not count on assistance from the state.
Centered on the main house, they help one another.
Meanwhile, China’s successive regimes never took care of the people.
Therefore, the Chinese lived not by relying on the state, that is, the regime, but by the solidarity of the clan.
Because the structure was like that, they did not mind even if the holders of political power were foreigners, for example, the Yuan dynasty ruled by Mongols.
Because it had “nothing to do with them.”
Naturally, the Chinese have never had, nor will they likely ever have, a nationalism that places value on the state.
Seen in that flow, Renhō can hardly be expected to possess any national consciousness.
That is why, even in this matter, she remains perfectly unconcerned.
In her heart she is probably saying this, “Must Japanese politics really put Japanese first?”
With an unqualified person standing as a candidate, and the Democratic Party calmly going ahead with such an election, should not the other two candidates in that party have refused such an election and withdrawn their candidacies?
Only by doing so could those two candidates have upheld proper principle, and only then could they truly have shared a manly shedding of tears.
With a representative burdened by such a problem, she will not be able to control party members who harbor designs in their hearts and are like wolves.
As the ancients said, if one now makes the crown prince lead the army, this is no different from making a sheep lead wolves. None of them will consent to exert their full strength. Therefore, it is certain that there will be no achievement.