Photo/Illutration Seisuke Okuno in 2005 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Seisuke Okuno, a Liberal Democratic Party politician who died at age 103 in 2016, served as education minister (1972-1974) and justice minister (1980-1981) while remaining a Lower House legislator for 40 years.

During those four decades, Okuno never belonged to any LDP “habatsu” faction.

But in his memoir titled “Ha ni Tayorazu, Gi wo Wasurezu” (literally, “Not depending on a faction and not forgetting morality”), he noted, “If you belong to a faction, it’s actually really convenient because the faction will get you a post and support you in your work.”

Then, why did he never join one? The reason lay in the so-called Miki report that was issued just before Okuno made his first successful bid for the Lower House in 1963.

Commissioned by then-Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda (1899-1965), who became alarmed by the growing influence of opposition parties over the public protests of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, the report was written by Takeo Miki (1907-1988), who would become prime minister in 1974.

The report called for an “unconditional dissolution of factions” as the LDP’s top priority.

As a rookie lawmaker, Okuno abided by the proposition. But it stirred major disputes among faction leaders.

Those opposed to the dissolution argued that the absence of factions would allow the LDP president to become dictatorial. But their real reason was that factions were indispensable to raising political funds and maintaining power and influence.

Ultimately, the party agreed on dissolving the factions. But--so typical of the LDP--factional fighting broke out in no time over the proposal to disband them.

And now, habatsu are once again at the root of a political funds scandal.

Four Cabinet ministers who belong to the faction of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigned on Dec. 14. They were replaced by members of other factions and one who does not belong to any.

A vice minister even admitted to having been ordered by his faction to keep his mouth shut.

So long as factions are involved in political money scandals, there is no question that the factions themselves are the problem.

But even though all factions were ostensibly abolished 60 years ago, they were revived before long.

A faction boss was quoted as saying at the time, “Dissolving factions is all the rage now, but they’ll be back soon, like bamboo shoots in early spring.”

By lying low or minimizing exposure for a while, factions try to make it look as if all the problems have been resolved. But they return once the storm has passed.

This has been repeated too often. Enough is enough.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 15

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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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