Relevant to the discussion on pols vs. bureaucrats, Gerry Curtis has a long 2012 talk at Columbia in which he deals with the issue under the DPJ after minute 30:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CwLlIFSwb0

It also includes and interesting discussion of the Senkaku Islands and why the quality of Japanese politicians has decline.
FYI.
Best,
Ellis