Ozawa Ichiro and Japanese Politics

This book examines the political goals, behaviour, methods and practices of Ozawa Ichiro, and in doing so, provides fascinating insights into the inner workings of Japanese politics. It explores Ozawa’s paradoxical and conflicting contributions in terms of two contrasting models of ‘old’ and ‘new’ politics. Indeed, therein lies the problem of understanding the ‘real’ Ozawa: he remained a practitioner of old politics despite his rhetorical agenda of change to bring about new politics. This volume seeks to illuminate Ozawa’s true motivations and character, and untangle the complex elements of old and new politics that he represents.