VOX POPULI: Politicos best beware of revengeful little fish

The Japanese proverb "Edo no kataki o Nagasaki de utsu" (For a wrong received in Edo, take revenge in Nagasaki) means to settle an old score in an unexpected place or over an unrelated matter.

But according to a dictionary of proverbs, the original was "Nagasaki ga utsu" (Nagasaki takes revenge). That derives from this episode: At an exhibition in Edo (now Tokyo), bamboo works from Osaka attracted considerable attention, causing the local craftsmen to lose face. But glasswork from Nagasaki was even more popular, much to the satisfaction of the Edo craftsmen.

Nagasaki, open to the outside world during Japan's period of isolation, was also ahead of the rest of the nation in other ways. However, with the phrase "Nagasaki de utsu," the meaning changes to the first mentioned above.

In Sunday's Nagasaki gubernatorial election, the candidate endorsed by the ruling Democratic Party of Japan lost. But the outcome was not unexpected--to the contrary, it was well deserved.

All Diet members from Nagasaki Prefecture constituencies belong to the DPJ. What does the landslide victory of the candidate backed by the opposition Liberal Democratic Party mean, if not voter discontent with the current administration?

Just as the novelty of Nagasaki glasswork surprised Edo residents, the DPJ should pay close attention to this surprising shift in mood before the Upper House election set for this summer.

According to an Asahi Shimbun public opinion poll last week, the Cabinet's approval rating has now slipped below 40 percent.

In particular, the trend is noticeable among unaffiliated voters.

The DPJ lawmakers involved in political fund scandals have yet to make satisfactory explanations. Despite that, strangely, not a peep of criticism has been heard from DPJ members.

Voter patience is running thin, even among those who expect the DPJ-led government to push ahead with reforms. Of course, if the LDP continues to boycott Diet deliberations, I don't think its public approval ratings will rise much, either.

The explanation about the Nagasaki proverb is found in "Kotowaza Daijiten" (Unabridged dictionary of proverbs) published by Shogakukan Inc. The dictionary also has an entry for the old phrase "Nagasaki no kowai zako" (Nagasaki's scary little fish). It is a play on words--kowai means scary, while koai means little--and refers to unspeakably frightful things or situations.

Political distrust is spreading and voters are turning their backs on both the LDP and the DPJ. Before long, the disappointed public could find it pointless to vote in elections and pay taxes. When that happens, society will grow even more apathetic. Such a development would be the "scariest little fish" for the nation today.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 23

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.