Today is Election Day in Japan

The upcoming November 5th election in the US has been crazy chaos for ages. I feel like the country is on the edge of a cliff and it is frightening. Contrast that with the quiet orderly election being held today in Japan. 

Between 1885 and 1947, the prime minister was chosen by the Emperor. Since 1947, the prime minister has been chosen in the “designation election of the prime minister” in the National Diet  (legislature). The voters don’t choose the prime minister directly.

Prime Minister Ishiba

Previous Prime Minister Kishida recently resigned and Shigeru Ishiba was chosen to take over the beginning of October. Eight days later, he called for a snap election of the lower house, which is being held today. Candidates have about two weeks to campaign. They put their pictures on giant boards in every neighborhood and have loud speakers on vans that drive around making announcements. This lasts two weeks vs. about two years and millions of dollars for campaigning in the US. 

I read in the Yomouri Shinbun online news that only about 60% of eligible voters have voted in the last three national elections in Japan. The article didn’t say if that included during the pandemic. That seems like a low voter turn out, but I don’t know how that compares with other countries.  I’ve been told by my students that elections are always held on Sundays and that voters hand write the name of the candidate in Kanji on special paper. No matter who wins today's election, I feel sure there will not be a January 6th type insurrection in Japan.