Japan Brief/FPCJ, No. 0866
November 6, 2008

Obama’s Presidential Election Victory in the United States and Commentary in Japan

In the evening of November 4 (morning of November 5 Japan time) Senator Barack Obama (47) of the Democratic Party emerged as the victor in the US presidential election after vote counting throughout the country revealed that he had defeated the Republican Party candidate, Senator John McCain (72). In simultaneous elections for the two houses of Congress, the Democratic Party also maintained its majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. In a victory speech delivered in Chicago, Illinois, in the early hours of November 5 (afternoon of the same day Japan time), President-elect Obama declared that “change has come to America.” Obama will be sworn in as the forty-fourth president of the United States at an inauguration ceremony in Washington DC on January 20, 2009. His term will run for four years until January 2013. Senator Joe Biden (65) of the Democratic Party will be appointed vice-president. The Democratic Party will be back in the White House for the first time in eight years since the administration of then President Bill Clinton (1993–2001).

In a statement issued on November 5, Prime Minister Taro Aso said, “Both Japan and the US share common values such as liberty, democracy, respect for basic human rights, and the promotion of a market economy. The Japan-US alliance is the linchpin of Japanese diplomacy and the cornerstone for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Working together with President-elect Obama, I will strive to further strengthen the Japan-US alliance and to resolve various challenges the international community faces when addressing issues such as the international economy, terrorism, and the environment.”

Newspaper Editorials Comment on Obama’s Victory
Reflecting the high level of interest in Obama’s triumph in Japan, the country’s main newspapers all focused on the issue in their November 6 editorials.

Under the headline “A leader for our times: It’s not just Americans seeking a renewal,” the Asahi Shimbun declared that Obama had “managed to engineer an overwhelming victory by breaking down all the racial prejudices.” Describing his triumph as a “dramatic shift in mind-set, which smacks of a revolution,” it noted that voters were dissatisfied with the administration of President George W. Bush and that the United States was now suffering from a loss of prestige both militarily and economically. Furthermore, the Asahi stated, “The era of global dominance by a strong America has come to an end on both the military and economic fronts.” It continued, “Obama has responded to the demands of the times by emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and voicing his willingness to even hold talks with countries that have been hostile to the United States. International cooperation led by the United States is also vital for tackling challenges ranging from global warming to nuclear proliferation.”

The Mainichi Shimbun editorial, headlined “Obama’s victory raises hopes for change in America,” commented that the era of President George W. Bush (unilateralism), the era of former President Ronald Reagan (neoconservatism), and the so-called US century (characterized by the universalization of the American-type society) seem to have come to an end. It also stated that the appearance of a black president is “a surprise that can even be described as a cultural revolution.” The Mainichi also proposed that it is a “good opportunity for Japan to build a new Japan-US relationship together with the new Obama administration.” It also warned, “If the economic crisis becomes even more serious and the number of unemployed increases, there is a danger that the United States will become inward-looking and lean toward protectionism. We hope that Obama will resist this temptation and make efforts to maintain an open America.”

The Yomiuri Shimbun editorial, titled “Obama has made history, but hard work starts now,” noted that “The most immediate task is to stop the US-triggered financial turmoil from escalating further” and that, regarding international trade, “there are concerns that the United States could shift toward protectionist policies.” On Japan-US relations, it stated, “Japan, for its part, must take advantage of the change of US government to recalibrate the nation’s relations with the United States, with a view to bolstering the alliance between the two nations.” The Yomiuri also stressed, “It is crucial for Prime Minister Taro Aso to hold talks with Obama as soon as possible to confirm the importance of cooperative Japan-US ties.”

Under the headline “Obama’s landslide victory; needs to restore trust and leadership,” the Sankei Shimbun editorial commented, “The election results are the American people’s verdict on the two-term Bush administration.” To the incoming administration, it said, “For the United States, the biggest and most urgent task in the immediate future will be extinguishing the flames of the financial crisis that originated in America and has spread throughout the world.” The Sankei also requested the new administration “not to succumb to the temptation of protectionism.” Regarding foreign policy, the Sankei stressed the need for the United States to tackle international issues through international cooperation rather than unilaterally and added, “It is essential for Japan to be actively involved in the process of the new US administration’s formation of diplomatic policy toward Asia and to make sure that that policy reflects Japan’s views.”

The Nikkei editorial, headlined “President Obama must tackle a historic economic crisis,” called Obama’s victory “historic” but then put the focus on the economic side, saying that “The top priority for the Obama administration will be to overcome the financial crisis and rebuild the economy.” “The touchstone that will divide assessment of the new administration,” it went on, “will most probably be whether it can come up with effective means to pull out of the recession.” The Nikkei added, “For the world and for Japan, it is important for America to maintain an economic system that is open to the outside.” It also stated, “The president will need to display intent and action so that the Congress does not rush ahead with protectionist legislation.” Furthermore, The Nikkei urged, “Japan must not just passively sit back and watch as the new administration develops its external economic policy. Among other things, Japan should back the realization of a Japan-US free trade agreement that would promote economic opening and reduce barriers to economic activity and make proposals to strengthen cooperation in the fields of energy and the environment.”

(Copyright 2008 Foreign Press Center / Japan)