If you are looking for evidence that Japan is not a democracy, look not just at Nagatacho (where Kan, under fire from all sides, is responding by shooting back in all directions while still maintaining his primary focus on reforming Japan's energy structure) but also and at least as much at voter participation. After all, if the "demo" is not there, where is the demo-cracy?

Yesterday we had an election for Saitama prefectural governor. Voter turn-out was a little under 25%. That's right. Three out of four voters couldn't be bothered. They abdicated. I have trouble understanding how this is Kan's fault or even the DPJ's fault.

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Fred Uleman, translator emeritus