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Case-Studies of Campaign Behavior in Urban, Suburban and Rural Election Districts

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Case-Studies of Campaign Behavior in Urban, Suburban and Rural Election Districts Electioneering in Japan in an Era of Institutional Change: Case-Studies of Campaign Behavior in Urban, Suburban and Rural Election Districts by Dyron Keith Dabney A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Political Science) in The University of Michigan 2009 Doctoral Committee: Professor Emeritus John Creighton Campbell, Co-chair Associate Professor Vincent L. Hutchings, Co-chair Professor Ronald F. Inglehart Associate Professor Leslie B. Pincus Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to my mother, Vernice S. Dabney, and my father, the late Charles T. Dabney, Sr. Thank you for your steadfast, unwavering faith and confidence in me throughout this academic endeavor. Collectively, I am grateful to my parents and two elder brothers, Charles, Jr. and Vertram who always reminded me of the value of my contribution to the academy, the political science discipline and society. ii Acknowledgements I am indebted to John C. Campbell, my academic advisor and dissertation committee chair, and Ruth Campbell for their personal and professional counsel and encouragement over the years, especially during the challenging periods of this project. Their generosity will never be forgotten. I am especially grateful for the concentrated attention and intellectual acumen John Campbell provided during the final stages of this project. I also wish to thank Vincent Hutchings, Leslie Pincus, and Ronald Inglehart for serving as members of the dissertation committee and the instructive comments offered to improve the quality of the project. I owe so much to Charlea T. McNeal for her tireless counsel on the dissertation process. Her sustained commitment to following my progress enabled me to see this dissertation to its completion. She challenged and inspired me to think more critically about my research and life. Additional thanks go to the late Takashi Horimoto, Sherry L. Martin, James Kruz, Hideki Oba, Hiroyuki Komine and Scharn Robinson for keeping me motivated. I sincerely appreciate their constant friendship, emotional support and intellectual insight. A special thanks goes to the Motohiro Kondo, Steven Reed, Satomi Tani, Yoshitaka Nishizawa, Yukio Kabashima and Yasunori Sone, who at different stages of the dissertation research presented me with many opportunities to advance my data collection and enhance my network of sources. They were my initial points of access and entry to MIGM, Keio University, Japanese Election Studies Association, political events, workshops, etc. The introductions and arrangements made on my behalf enhanced the comprehensiveness and ease of my research investigation over multiple years. iii I can never repay the generosity extended to me by the executive leaders, administrative staff and many graduates of Matsushita Institute of Government and Management. I received generous financial support and on-going encouragement from MIGM during my research. The support I received over the length of this dissertation project remains priceless. The privilege and experience of being the first Western researchers in residence at MIGM is unforgettable. I remain honored to have been afforded the opportunity to be a guest of MIGM’s unique living and learning environment. More importantly, I remain honored for the opportunity to feature MIGM and MIGM alums in my research. Former Director of MIGM, Mr. Kuniko Okada, and President of MIGM, Mr. Akira Joko were constant sources of confidence and cheer when I was challenged by setbacks in the research. They also served as a compass when I felt lost about where to go and what to do next at critical times in the field research. Last, but certainly not least, I am eternally grateful for the on-going contributions from Matsuzawa Shigefumi, Genba Kouichirou and Usami Noboru and their respective staff members and families to my dissertation research. Their candid conversations about politics and willingness to invite me into their political and personal worlds informed the dissertation on so many levels. Without their abundant cooperation and generous support this project would not have been possible. I will always cherish the generosity of Norihiko Fukuda and Osamu Watanabe, legislative and campaign staffers for Matsuzawa Shigefumi and Genba Kouichirou, respectively, who opened their homes to me during my field research. Their immediate support signaled their appreciation for the research project, but more importantly it showcased the universality of human kindness. iv Table of Contents Dedication ii Acknowledgements iii List of Tables vii List of Abbreviations viii Notes: Use of Japanese Surnames ix Notes: Interviews x Abstract xii Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Analyzing Japanese Campaigns 2 The Type A and B Strategies 5 Reform and Its Effects 9 The Research Design of the Study 16 About the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management 18 Case Studies of Three MIGM Graduates 20 Chapter 2: Literature Review 24 Explanations for Japan’s Distinctive Campaign Behavior 24 Evaluations of Election Reform 31 Chapter 3: Suburban Campaign Behavior: Matsuzawa Shigefumi 37 1987 and 1991 Prefectural Elections 39 Deciding to Go National 45 The Electoral Challenge 47 Campaign Behavior: 1993 Lower House Election 51 1993 Lower House Election Outcome 55 Campaign Behavior: 1996 Lower House Election 56 v Campaign Behavior: 2000 Lower House Election 67 Conclusion 71 Chapter 4: Urban and Rural Campaign Behavior: Usami Noburu and 72 Genba Kouichiro Usami Noburu 74 The 1993 General Election 74 The 1996 General Election 80 The 2000 General Election 85 Genba Kouichirou 90 The 1993 General Election 90 The 1996 General Election 97 The 2000 General Election 106 Conclusion 111 Chapter 5: Conclusion 112 Accounting for Variation in the Campaign Behavior of the Case 121 Studies The Broader Context 137 Figure 5.1 140 Bibliography 141 vi List of Tables Table 3.1 1987 Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly Election (Asao Ward) 42 3.2 1991 Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly Election (Asao Ward) 44 3.3 1990 Lower House Election (Kanagawa 2 nd district) 49 3.4 1993 Lower House Election (Kanagawa 2 nd district) 58 3.5 1996 Lower House Election (Kanagawa 9 th district) 61 3.6 2000 Lower House Election (Kanagawa 9 th district) 71 4.1 1990 Lower House Election (Tokyo 2 nd district) 75 4.2 1993 Lower House Election (Tokyo 2 nd district) 80 4.3 1996 Lower House Election (Tokyo 3 rd district) 85 4.4 2000 Lower House Election (Tokyo 4 th district) 89 4.5 1991 Fukushima Prefectural Assembly Election (Tamaru County) 90 4.6 1993 Lower House Election (Fukushima 2 nd district) 96 4.7 1996 Lower House Election (Fukushima 3 rd district) 104 4.8 2000 Lower House Election (Fukushima 3 rd district) 111 5.1 Campaign Tactics – Total Scores 113 5.2 Campaign Tactics – Change Over Time 118 5.3 Campaign Tactics – Differences By Candidate (District Type) 119 vii List of Abbreviations MMD election system Multi-Member District election system SNTV Single Non-Transferable Vote SMD election system Single-Member District election system PR election system Proportional Representation election system CGP Clean Government Party or Koumeitou DPJ Democratic Party of Japan JCP Japanese Communist Party JNP Japan New Party LDP Liberal Democratic Party MMM electoral system Mixed-Member Majoritarian electoral system MIGM Matsushita Institute of Government and Management NFP New Frontier Party JRP Japan Renewal Party or Shinsei Party Shintou Sakigake New Harbinger Party or New Party Sakigake SDPJ/JSP Social Democratic Party of Japan/Japanese Socialist Party viii Note: Use of Japanese Surnames The family name or surname of individuals referenced in this text precedes the given name according to the Japanese convention. Japanese scholars’ works published in English that appear in this text are presented in reverse order according to the Western convention. ix Note: Interviews Amegasa Yuuji , Kawasaki City Council member (Asao ward), on October 17, 1996 and June 22, 2000. Aoyama Keiichi , Secretary for Matsuzawa Shigefumi and Kawasaki City Council member (Tama ward), on March 17, 1997 and June 15, 2000. Aihara Takahiro , Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly member, (Asao ward), on June 20, 2000. Fukuda Norihiko , Secretary for Matsuzawa Shigefumi, on February 14, 1997, June 21, 2000 and June 30, 2000. Fukuda Norihiko , Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly member, on July 30, 2006. Genba Kouichirou , House of Representatives incumbent (Fukushima 2 nd district and Tohoku PR bloc and Fukushima 3 rd district), on September 26, 1995; February 18, 1997 and July 5, 2000. Genba Mikiko , Hana no Kai spokes woman, on June 22, 2000. Iguchi Mami , 2000 Lower House candidate (Kanagawa 9 th district), on July 13, 2000. Kasuya Youko , Secretary for Matsuzawa Shigefumi and Kawasaki City Council member (Takatsu ward), on April 20, 1997 and June 14, 2000. Matsuzawa Shigefumi , House of Representatives (Kanagawa 2 nd and 9 th districts) incumbent, on October 30, 1995; February 5, 1997; July 6, 2000 and July 11, 2000. Oba Hideki , 1996 Field Representative and Campaign Scheduler, on November 16, 1996 and June 22, 2000. Ogawa Eiichi , 1996 and 2000 Lower House candidate (Kanagawa 9 th district), on July 4, 2000. Yukiko Owaga , Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly member (Takatsu ward), on July 4, 2000. x Yoshida Taisei , Secretary for Matsuzawa Shigefumi and Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly member (Asao ward), on June 18, 2000. Watanabe Osamu , 1996 and 2000 Lower House election Campaign Manager for Genba Kouichirou, on November 16, 1996 and June 22, 2000. Usami Noboru
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