A Study of Partilization of Bureaucrat in Modern Japan

Abstract

In Japan, bureaucrats have been usually recruited to run for the Diet, and moved from successful bureaucrats to elective public office. At a first glance, the idea of "the separation of politics and administration" seems to be ignored here, but this feature is a political phenomenon particularly unique to Japanese political culture, and rooted deeply in its own historical experience. During the Taisho era (1912-1926), when the political phenomenon mentioned above "partilization of bureaucrats" - took place so often, people tend to think that the phenomenon indicated the party cabinet would be possible, and also strongly impressed that Hanbatsu was in declining from position of influence. The purpose of this article is to focus upon, and will seek the explanation of the relationship between the political parties and the progress of the constitutional government in Taisho era-mainly Hara cabinet (1918-1922). At that time, even Hanbatsu was falling into decay, Genro still had a tremendous influence in politics, especially in the time to select the Prime Minister. So political parties had to inevitably coopt with political actors who could stand inside the bounds of Genro's acceptance; bureaucrats in higher positions were their only plausible choice. Hence, those bureaucrats were picked as party members, though this was largely a political parties' ploy to achieve their goals. For bureaucrats, indeed, they either had no choice but to become members of political parties because their very survival was depended highly upon whether they would be able to swim with the tide of the constitutional government.