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Originally Posted by Darial
Please, get your facts straight. In 2003, Japan had a voter turn-out of 67.5% for its major election (lower house of Diet). The comparable U.S. election, the 2004 presidential election, had a turn-out rate of 56.2%, 11.3% less than the Japanese voter turn-out rate.
Here's a University of Tokyo report on it |
You're comparing two different sizes of population. It's like comparing apples to oranges. In a larger state, many will carry the mentality that their votes don't matter. Along with all other hurdles of voting issues.
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While there are ties between organized crime and corrupt politicians, I don't think it's anywhere as extensive as you imagine it to be. Hope you are kidding about this one.
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May be you're right, since my experience has been biased.
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Dunno which country you are imagining, but the Japanese government officials and SDF officers I met during the three years I lived there on official business did not give off the impression that they are a weak state. Just ask their Chinese, Taiwanese, and Korean neighbors. 
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Impression can be misleading. Japan is a proud state after all. Their military power, however, still frails in comparison to neighboring states.