Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Fumio Kishida responds to an online news media question at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo on Oct. 31. (The Asahi Shimbun)

On Oct. 31, it stopped raining in central Tokyo after nightfall.

As I looked up at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s headquarters building in Tokyo’s Nagatacho, I saw most rooms in the nine-story building brightly lit, with the party’s crimson-colored flag fluttering in the wind.

Vote counting began. The number of roses pinned on a board in the building to show the names of the LDP candidates started increasing, indicating an electoral win.

I, while walking on the street, thought about the lack of policy consistency shown by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the LDP’s “face for the election.”

I felt uneasy about how he withdrew some of his key policy proposals within a month or so after they were announced.

During his campaign for the LDP leadership election. Kishida emphatically pledged to craft a new income-doubling plan for the Reiwa Era (2019-present), establish a new agency for health crisis management and increase taxation on income from financial investments.

But none of those items were included in the LDP’s campaign platform for the Oct. 31 Lower House election.

Kishida claimed that he had taken down none of his administration’s “policy banners.” But signs of his political leadership in policymaking disappeared quickly in the run-up to the election.

Kishida’s favorite motto is reportedly “shunpu setsujin” (spring breeze in treating people). He wrote the phrase in calligraphy immediately before the official campaign period for the Lower House poll began.

The phrase was coined by Sato Issai (1772-1859), a Confucianist during the Edo Period (1603-1867).

According to “Genshi Koroku,” a collection of Sato’s writings during the 19th century, “shunpu setsujin” is coupled with “shuso jishuku” (autumn frost in controlling oneself).

Combined, these two phrases apparently mean treating people gently like a spring breeze while disciplining oneself with the harshness of an autumn frost.

But it appears that Kishida’s “spring breeze” has been blowing mainly for a former prime minister and other LDP bigwigs.

He returned the favor of their support for his LDP presidential campaign with his party and Cabinet appointments. In this autumn, many Japanese are only feeling the chill of frost as they struggle with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is far from over, and the hardships due to the economic downturn.

Given the bitter political winds that blew against the previous administration, which was roundly criticized for its failed policy responses to the pandemic, it can probably be said that the LDP led by Kishida has managed to hold up fairly well.

I hope to see him send a balmy spring breeze in the direction of the public without casually taking down the banner of his policy credo. That was the wish I made as I left the LDP’s headquarters building.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 1

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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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