080118JapanConsideredPodcastVol04No03

January 18, 2008; Volume 04, Number 03 Click here for a transcript of this programThanks for joining us for another edition of the Japan Considered Podcast. This week we have a special treat. Gregg Rubinstein of GAR Associates in Washington D.C., joins us again. Gregg this week helps us to understand the significance of the Ministry of Defense procurement corruption scandal we've discussed for the past few months. Gregg has been active in U.S.-Japan defense relations for a long time. And knows what's going on. He joined us over the SkypePhone on Thursday afternoon, the 17th. In addition to Gregg's contribution, this week we examine the spate of public opinion polls released by Japan's media in the wake of Prime Minister Fukuda's visit to China and the Lower House two-thirds over-ride of Upper House opposition to the anti-terror law. It's quite a diverse set of poll results! We then turn briefly again to the question of significant realignment of Japan's political party system.