Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Oct. 4 delivered his first policy speech after assuming office, but it was noticeably toned down from the positions he had advocated during the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election in September. He should recognize the meaning of his election to be the new premier despite having long maintained a critical stance within the ruling party. Simply speaking in vague, noncommittal terms to prioritize party unity will not dispel political distrust or alleviate people's anxieties about their lives and future.

On the ongoing issue of "money in politics," he expressed "deep reflection" and pledged to work on "establishing ethics grounded in following the rules." It goes without saying that politicians must comply with the revised Political Funds Control Act. He also said, "We will make the utmost effort to enhance transparency," but provided no specifics.

The abolition of "policy activity funds" distributed to lawmakers from their parties and the disclosure of how the 1-million-yen (about $6,720) monthly "research, public relations and accommodation expenses" are used were issues left unresolved from the previous regular Diet session. Although these points were discussed during the LDP leadership election, he did not touch on them in his speech.

Ever-fading individuality

Ishiba also said he plans to endorse in principle the lawmakers disciplined in connection with the slush fund scandal involving LDP factions for the upcoming House of Representatives election. During his candidacy announcement for the party leadership, Ishiba expressed the view that this matter should be thoroughly debated within the party's election strategy committee. However, after facing strong backlash from members of the Abe faction, formerly headed by late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the epicenter of the scandal, he softened his stance, avoiding the issue entirely in his speech.

Ishiba is one of the few current lawmakers who were involved in a set of major political reforms about 30 years ago, prompted by the Recruit bribery scandal. He is expected to leverage that experience to put an end to money scandals and restore public trust in politics. However, he is obviously hesitant, likely due to the shaky foundation of his administration. There is no sense of determination to undertake the bold political reforms of today.

His exchange with opposition party members during his courtesy visits on Oct. 1 hinted at his struggles. When encouraged to "show your unique Ishiba colors and work hard," Ishiba replied, "If I show them, I'll get bashed," and, "If I show them, the public will be happy, but the party will be angry." This suggests he may feel compelled to suppress his individuality even on specific policies.

In terms of foreign and security policy, the prime minister opted to shelve his long-held proposals to create an "Asian NATO" and revise the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, which governs the legal status of the U.S. military in Japan. Putting aside the Asian NATO idea is understandable given the friction it looks likely to create with neighboring countries and the United States, not to mention its low feasibility. However, he should continue advocating for revisions to the Japan-U.S. agreement, considering the heavy burden on Okinawa Prefecture, where U.S. military bases are concentrated.

Regarding economic and fiscal policy, Ishiba inherited the approach taken by his predecessor Fumio Kishida and his Cabinet, advocating for an "economy whose growth is led by wage increases and investment." During the LDP leadership race, he called for strengthening taxes on investment income to address income inequality, but this was not mentioned in his speech.

He has also shown inconsistency in his stance on monetary policy. Initially, he respected the Bank of Japan's judgment, but in an about-face after taking office, he expressed caution regarding an early interest rate hike, undermining confidence in the financial markets.

Now more than ever is the time for politics for the people

The only areas where Ishiba's individuality stood out were his proposals to create a "disaster management agency" with a dedicated minister, set up a conference of relevant ministers to improve conditions for Self-Defense Forces personnel, and double subsidies for regional revitalization. But these points alone do not provide a clear direction for his policy agenda.

It also appears that, with the upcoming House of Representatives election in mind, Ishiba is intentionally avoiding divisive issues.

Polls show that the Ishiba Cabinet's approval ratings, such as the 46% in the latest Mainichi Shimbun poll, are relatively low compared to past cabinets right after their inauguration. Many people who expected Ishiba to continue his principled stance, which he had upheld under the long reign of the Abe administration, may now feel let down.

Ishiba decided to dissolve the lower house early without convening budget committee meetings, where full-fledged Diet debates would occur. He announced the snap election schedule before assuming office, meaning that he did not yet have the authority to dissolve the chamber, and this goes against constitutional norms.

The Ishiba Cabinet was born at a turning point in Japanese politics, marking a departure from the political line that continued from Abe. However, it remains unclear what direction his government is heading and what kind of country he seeks to build. As a result, the public may be left wondering what criteria to base their votes on in the upcoming election.

Ishiba has promoted a politics of "understanding and empathy," but to make that a reality, he must abandon the inward-looking approach that prioritizes party matters. What is needed from him is to speak and act from the perspective of the people.