Photo/Illutration Shimane Governor Tatsuya Maruyama, left, hands a written request for enhanced measures to contain the COVID-19 crisis to Wataru Takeshita, a Lower House member representing the prefecture, in Tokyo on Feb. 25. (Pool)

Prior to World War II, prefectural governors were government appointees who could be arbitrarily dismissed by the Cabinet.

The relationship between the central and prefectural governments back then was that of master and servants. And that was how it continued to be perceived even after governors came to be elected by popular vote following the end of the war.

But that mentality died out when the omnibus decentralization law took effect in 2000, proclaiming the relationship between the central and local governments to be that of equals.

In my opinion, Wataru Takeshita, a Lower House legislator of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, needs to re-learn the spirit of that law.

After Shimane Governor Tatsuya Maruyama announced his decision to consider cancelling the Olympic torch relay in his prefecture, Takeshita said, "I must send for him to have a word with him."

Takeshita himself represents a Shimane constituency. But after years of holding positions of power in national politics, could it be that he has come to see the prefectural governor as his subordinate?

During his meeting with the governor, Takeshita reportedly told him that cancelling the torch relay "is not something for the governor to decide."

But isn't listening to someone else's opinion with an open mind what Takeshita needs to do now?

Governor Maruyama's concern is not solely due to his fears that the relay will spread COVID-19. His argument is that the problem lies in trying to hold the Olympics.

If the Games are held without sufficient COVID prevention measures, the pandemic may resurge and cause damage not only to the greater metropolitan area, but also to Shimane's economy. In short, the problem applies to the entire nation.

Public opinion is largely in favor of cancelling or re-postponing the Tokyo Olympics, and the "rebellion" in Shimane actually reflects the majority view.

Being far away from Tokyo's Nagatacho and Kasumigaseki--the political and bureaucratic seats of government, respectively--perhaps the people of Shimane are better able to see the situation objectively.

The government's "Go To" promotion campaigns stood in the way of swift pandemic responses.

When are vaccinations going to be available to all? Nobody knows. And Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga skipped a news conference on this pressing issue on Feb. 26.

The Shimane governor isn't the only person who is perturbed by what is going on.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 27

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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