In that sense, symbolically, he is proposing the 'reduction of the number of seats' . . . That's why the press often plays them as opposite poles. They want in-depth reform and are determined to make it happen. A couple of months ago, Kato was questioned on that by Soichiro Tahara. Here are some excerpts from the interview carried by Chuo Koron and translated by Japan Echo.
Japan is in effect the world's most successful socialistic planned economy.
Historically, too, the tombs of Japanese emperors and feudal lords are much more modest than the tombs of ancient Chinese or Egyptian rulers. I think that's why the nation lost its vitality . . . So I think we absolutely must infuse more vitality into the private sector. Ozawa strongly advocates free competition and self-responsibility. We call him and his ilk neoconservatives, while we call you and your supporters liberals.