Japanese Politics Today: From Karaoke to Kabuki Democracy

Edited by Takashi Inoguchi and Purnendra Jain

New York: Palgrave Macmillan, October 2011

Including contributors with diverse backgrounds and outlooks, this volume provides an unconventional and provocative look at how Japan is situated in a globally unfolding transition from representative democracy to monitoring democracy. In Japan's case, the transition is unfolding from karaoke democracy to kabuki democracy. Karaoke democracy focuses on collectively redistributing benefits with many intervening institutions whereas kabuki democracy focuses on striking an emotional chord with direct conversations between leaders and citizens. A must read for those interested in knowing where Japan is heading.

Introduction: From Karaoke to Kabuki Democracy:
Japanese Politics Today--Takashi Inoguchi and Purnendra Jain

Prime Ministers--Takashi Inoguchi

The System of Bureaucrats in Japan--Hiroaki Inatsugu

* Legislators--Kentaro Fukumoto

Winning Elections in Japan's New Electoral Environment--Steven R. Reed

Party Politics in Japan--J. A. A. Stockwin

The Farm Lobby--Aurelia George Mulgan

Civil Society and Global Citizenship in Japan--Jennifer Chan

Welfare Policy--Gregory J. Kasza and Takashi Horie

Japan's Subnational Government: Toward Greater Decentralization and Participatory Democracy--Purnendra Jain

Reporting with Wolves: Pack Journalism and the Dissemination of Political Information--Ofer Feldman

Revision of Administrative Law as Shortcut to Constitutional Revision--Helen Hardacre