[Introduction to American Politics Vol. 9] Differences Between American and Japanese Politics

Objective of this session

By comparing the American "presidential system" and the Japanese "parliamentary cabinet system," we will understand the characteristics of democracy in both countries through their differences in political systems and culture.

Main Text

Although both the United States and Japan are "democratic nations," their political mechanisms differ significantly.
The most fundamental difference is that the United States adopts a presidential system, while Japan adopts a parliamentary cabinet system.

In the United States, the president is elected by popular vote. The president is the "head of the executive branch" and also the "head of state." In other words, the leader who represents the country and the leader who runs the government are the same person.
On the other hand, the Japanese Prime Minister is chosen from among the members of the Diet. Apart from the Emperor, who is the top (symbol) of the country, there is a Prime Minister who runs the government.

This difference also affects political stability and the speed of decision-making.
In the United States, the president's term is fixed at four years. Even if Congress says "quit," they do not resign easily. Therefore, once a policy is decided, it is often pursued consistently throughout the term.
On the other hand, in Japan, since the majority in the Diet chooses the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister changes when the situation of the political parties changes. While this allows for flexible policy changes, it also means that administrations tend to be short-lived.

Furthermore, the U.S. Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) is independent of the executive branch, and sometimes a party different from the president's holds the majority. This is called "gridlock," and in such cases, it becomes difficult for bills to pass. In the Japanese Diet, because the ruling party supports the Prime Minister, the executive and legislative branches generally work together.

In addition, there are differences in the electoral systems. In the United States, a "two-party system (Democratic and Republican parties)" is well-established, and citizens clearly choose which one to support. Japan has a "multi-party system" where multiple parties exist, and it is common to form coalition governments. Because there are many choices, policy coordination tends to be complex.

These differences in systems also affect how citizens engage with politics. In the United States, there is a strong sense that individual opinions and votes "move the country," and political campaigns and donations are active. In Japan, there is a tendency to value trust in political parties as a whole and regional connections.

Rather than one being superior to the other, each has a system suited to its own history and social structure.
Knowing these differences is the first step toward a deeper understanding of one's own country's politics.

Next time, in our final installment, we will consider "the influence of American politics on the world."