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Article: The puppet who cut his strings. (Japan's Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- April 14, 1990
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1990 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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AMERICA has become the Japanese government's only effective opposition. Japan's prime minister, Mr Toshiki Kaifu, shrugs off the increasingly maladroit attacks of the Socialists and the minor opposition parties. But when the United States mounts an assault, as it did in recent weeks over trade, the ruling Liberal Democrats pay attention: making deals, even changing policies, in ways that are good for Japan.
No one has benefited more from this curious state of affairs than Mr Kaifu himself. Chosen by party bosses last August as a seat-warming prime minister, he showed unexpected skill in striking last week's trade deal with America. This not only earned him the ...