Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (front row, center) and his Cabinet ministers during a photo session at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Oct. 4 (The Asahi Shimbun)

Maintaining an up-to-date calendar of major news topics is part and parcel of the job of a daily columnist.

For the immediate future, the topics include the season’s first haul of “sanma” Pacific saury, the peak of this year’s autumn foliage and the announcement of Nobel prizes.

Misreading the calendar will inevitably result in being caught unprepared and having to pen a piece in a mad rush.

I was taken by surprise by the just-revealed political timetable that puts the dissolution of the Lower House on Oct. 14, the start of the election campaign on Oct. 19 and election day on Oct. 31.

Embarrassingly, the timetable I had written down in my schedule book was completely off: “Campaign kicks off Oct. 26, election day Nov. 7.”

The incredible haste to dissolve the Lower House only 10 days after the replacement of the prime minister, followed by an election 17 days later, makes my head spin.

The Liberal Democratic Party’s approval rating rose in the immediate wake of the presidential election.

Newly-minted Prime Minister Fumio Kishida must have thought that the timing could not have been more prefect for calling the Lower House election.

And by not giving sufficient time for opposition parties to join forces, he must have figured the LDP should do well, especially now that there seems to be a lull in the COVID-19 situation.

In his new Cabinet that was formed on Oct. 4, 13 of the 20 ministers are first-timers.

Kishida boasted about creating a good balance between the older and younger generations. But with the election campaign kicking off before the Cabinet has fully settled in, there will be no time for the public to get to know and judge the policies and capabilities of the new members.

The Zhuangzi, an ancient Chinese text from the late Warring States period (476–221 B.C.), notes that wise men do not miss their timing.

On the other hand, an east African adage goes to the effect, “Rushing ahead receives no blessing.”

Around the world and throughout history, there have been cases galore of people misreading the situation and paying dearly for it.

The abrupt moving-up of the Lower House election schedule felt like a sneak attack. Will the outcome be good, or bad?

We voters must refuse to be affected by these abrupt developments, stay cool and observe carefully.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 5

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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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