The presidential debate is an important part of every election in the United States, giving the president and his opponent an opportunity to debate important issues before the masses. Back home in Britain, the party leaders prefer not to do any mass debating in public. They like to keep that kind of thing private.

Last week the Japanese prime minister, Koizumi, stunned the nation when he said he intended to do away with voting and instead use the upcoming prime minsterial debate to settle the election - with a game of jyanken (paper, scissors, rock).

Such an idea may seem ludicrous to most, but don't forget this is the man who advocated the wearing of swimming trunks in the office, and who tried to get legislation through parliament for a change of hairstyle.

Since the announcement, the party leaders have been campaigning vigorously, using speeches and posters to bluff and double bluff. Koizumi seems to be pushing for scissors, but it could be a ruse. He may well go for paper on the day.




Takenori Kanzaki of the Komei Party looks pretty serious about rock.


It looks like paper for Okada (Democratic Party of Japan).

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 04, 2005 at 8:36 pm. You can skip to the end and leave a response.