YOSH!

as the elections in Japan grow slowly closer, the loudspeakers-atop-vans and dodgy communist-esque posters have started to litter the streets. here we have the unnaturally posed candidates with mouths and fists clenched conveying feelings of strength, reliabilty and power. I see a kind of constipated determination or maybe that they've just got an answer right in a pub quiz: "ya beauty".

anyway - after the failed post office privitisation vote (which led us to these elections), koizumi's got his hands full battling all his deserters. fortunately for the fonz, he has enlisted a crack squad of fresh faced celebrities and females (already coined as 'Koizumis assassins') to dampen the flames and while it shouldn't be strange that women are appearing on the ballot papers, it is somewhat in contrast to their (lack of) power in government and society in general.

Horie's at it as well - the entrepeneur who failed to buy out a broadcasting company and baseball team in quick succession earlier this year is another new face and rebel who will be fighting against the traditional stance - there is a 36 year age difference between his opponent and him which probably says alot about both of them.

in any case - I'm voting for the guy on the left - he looks much more commited.