Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, in his first policy speech since taking office, emphasized his intention to carry out various reforms based on his long-held policy of breaking down bureaucratic sectionalism. While continuing the policy of the administration of preceding Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the speech was studded with "Suga's style" that seek results on issues familiar to the people.
-- Focus on familiar
Delivering his speech to both houses of the Diet on Monday, Suga said, "[The administration] will prevent explosive infections and protect people's lives and health."
Measures against the novel coronavirus were the first thing he mentioned in his speech. Wearing a white mask while speaking, Suga said he would take every political measure possible to overcome the situation as the country is "in the middle of a national crisis." The pandemic has brought about the largest economic downturn since World War II.
He also listed his goals, such as the establishment of a digital agency, which is the centerpiece of his digitization policy, along with insurance coverage for fertility treatments and a reduction in mobile phone fees.
"Regulatory reforms will be promoted with all-out efforts by breaking through bureaucratic sectionalism, vested interests and bad practice of acting on precedents," he said, showing his strong desire to realize these goals.
Regarding new plans to revive tourism demand and measures to solve the issue of children on waiting lists for nursery schools, Suga said detailed plans will be compiled "by the end of the year." Specifying the date was a way to demonstrate his ability to get things done, especially in areas that are familiar to the people and easy for the public to see the benefits in the near future.
In an NHK program that aired Monday night, Suga said, "Delivering messages on deadlines and goals is likely to help people build trust in politics."
-- Contrast to Abe
It was notable that Suga's speech did not mention specific episodes or history.
"I don't need history or anecdotes," the prime minister reportedly said during the drafting of the speech. "What's more important is to show how I would make efforts on each of the tasks."
Instead of having a speechwriter, Suga had Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Naoki Okada and other officials from the Prime Minister's Office handle the work as they drew up issues from ministries and agencies that are of Suga's particular interest. The speech, as a result, showcased a list of individual policies in short sentences.
Abe's speeches were in stark contrast. He insisted on including historical events and episodes in his speeches.
While Suga looks to continue Abe's policies in the economic and diplomatic fields, he opted for making an impression of "a cabinet that will work for the people" by refraining from attracting attention or making a performance.
-- Lack of vision
Former prime ministers have expressed their own styles or political stances in their first policy speeches.
Yukio Hatoyama, of the then Democratic Party of Japan that ousted the Liberal Democratic Party, declared in a speech in October 2009 that he wanted "a full-scale cleanup of the postwar government."
Abe, after returning as prime minister in December 2012, filed away his "initiative to make a clean break with the postwar regime" of his short-lived first Cabinet. Instead, he placed emphasis on economic revitalization and took a step toward his long-term administration.
A close aide said Suga's speech "was a practical, 'workmanlike' speech, very much in the prime minister's style."
However, some LDP members have expressed skepticism. A veteran lawmaker said, "He speaks only on topics whose answers are already in sight and there was no vision for the nation."
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