I have lived outside Japan for over forty years. During this period I have traveled many times to Japan to observe its political characteristics and compare them with those of other countries. This is the first time that I have had to stoop to such a low level to describe the government of my native land. Koizumi's policies are so callous toward the actual condition of the Japanese state and its people, that I esteem Japan's political performance to be worse than North Korea or even Namibia. Why has Koizumi's misgovernment been so neglected?

One reason for Koizumi's endurance is that the Japanese media has failed in its watchdog role. Another reason is that the Japanese people, who have personally fallen into a miserable situation, do not realize its gravity. Competent people in the world know Koizumi's happy-go-lucky approach, and it is not an exaggeration to say that they are appalled. Yet Japanese people themselves do not understand the person they have elected or what he is doing to Japan. I can't help but saying that our ignorance makes me very unsettled.  (Additional detail.)