When will Politicians put their Eyes in the Dharma?

Close up Japan |政治家がダルマに目を入れる日はいつ?

When will Politicians put their Eyes in the Dharma?

Prime Minister Kishida declared the dissolution of the House of Representatives, and a general election for the House of Representatives was held. Since only the prime minister has the authority to dissolve the government and hold a general election, the prime minister and his cabinet always have their own expectations. When the Diet is dissolved, all members of the House of Representatives (currently 465) will be released from their positions. Former members of the House of Representatives will campaign for “reemployment” and newcomers who want to become members will campaign for their “first election.” And then, they advertise election posters, social media, and give speeches on the streets and in campaign cars. The term of office for a member of the House of Representatives is four years. If they are elected, they can usually earn a large income, and unless they make a big mistake, their life is secure. Therefore, many legislators are trying to keep their seats by making safe choices. It is customary for Japanese politicians to paint the eye on the Dharma and say banzai (hooray) cheers when their election is confirmed. A member of the Diet once said in an interview when he became a minister, “Now I can be filial to my parents.” This is an episode that tells us that the real goal is to get elected and become a legislator or a minister. On the other hand, people want a politician who paints the eye on the Dharma and says banzai (hooray), only when he or she fulfills their campaign pledge.

岸田きしだ内閣ないかく総理そうり大臣だいじん
kishida naikaku’souri’daijinn ga
Prime Minister Kishida
衆議院しゅうぎいん解散かいさん宣言せんげんし、
shuugiinn’kaisann wo senngenn shi,
declared the dissolution of the House of Representatives and
衆議院しゅうぎいん議員ぎいん総選挙そうせんきょ
shuugiinn’giinn sou’sennkyo ga
a general election for the House of Representatives
おこなわれました。
okonaware mashita.
was held
解散かいさん
“kaisann”
to dissolve the government
to
and
総選挙そうせんきょ
“sou’sennkyo”
a general election
実施じっし
jisshi no
hold
権限けんげん
kenngenn ha
the authority
総理そうり大臣だいじん
souri’daijinn
the prime minister
だけが
dake ga
only
motsu
has
ため、
tame,
since
そこにはつね
soko niha tsune ni
always
総理そうり大臣だいじん
souri’daijinn
the prime minister
ya
and
内閣ないかく
naikaku no
his cabinet
思惑おもわく
omowaku ga
their own expectations
あります。
ari masu.
have
解散かいさんした
kaisann shita
(the Diet) is dissolved
時点じてん
jitenn de
when
衆議院しゅうぎいん議員ぎいん
shuugiinn’giinn
members of the House of Representatives
全員ぜんいん
zenninn
all
げん465めい)が
(genn yonnhyaku rokujuugo mei) ga
currently four hundred and sixty-five [persons]
議員ぎいんしょく
giinn’shoku
their positions
wo
from
かれます。
tokare masu.
will be released
元議員もとぎいんたちは
moto’giinn tachi ha
former members of the House of Representatives
再就職さいしゅうしょく」のため、
“sai’shuushoku” no tame,
reemployment for
また、
mata,
and
議員ぎいん
giinn wo
members
こころざ
kokorozasu
who want to become
新人しんじん
shinnjinn ha
newcomers
初当選はつとうせん
hatsu’tousenn
their first election
目指めざし、
wo mezashi,
for
選挙せんきょ運動うんどうおこないます。
sennkyo’posuta- ya okonai masu.
will campaign
そして、
soshite,
and then
選挙せんきょポスターぽすたー
sennkyo’posuta- ya
election posters
SNSえすえぬえす
esu enu esu
social media
de
on
告知こくちし、
kokuchi shi,
advertise
街頭がいとう
gaitou
(and) on the streets
ya
and
選挙せんきょカーかー
sennkyo’ka-
campaign cars
での
deno
in
演説えんぜつ
ennzetsu wo
speeches
おこないます。
okonai masu.
they give
衆議院しゅうぎいん議員ぎいん
shuugiinn’giinn
a member of the House of Representatives
no
for
任期にんき
ninnki ha
the term of office
4年よねん
yo nenn
four years
です。
desu.
is
当選とうせん
tousenn
they are elected
すれば、
sure ba,
if
大抵たいてい場合ばあい
taitei no baai ha
usually
おおくの収入しゅうにゅう
ooku no shuunyuu wo
a large income
られ、
erare,
they can earn and
おおきな
ookina
big
ミスみす
misu wo
a mistake
しないかぎ
shi nai kagiri
unless they make
生活せいかつ
seikatsu ha
their life
安泰あんたい
anntai
secure
です。
desu.
is
そのため、
sono tame,
therefore
無難ぶなん
bunann ni
by making safe choices
つづけようとする
tsudukeyou to suru
are trying to keep their seats
議員ぎいん
giinn mo
legislators
すくなくありません。
sukunaku ari masenn.
many
日本にほん
nihonn no
Japanese
政治家せいじか
seiji’ka
politicians
は、
ha,
for
当選とうせん
tousenn ga
their election
確定かくていした
kakutei shita
is confirmed
とき
toki ni
when
ダルマだるま
daruma
the Dharma
ni
on
れて、
me wo irete,
me wo irete,
万歳ばんざい三唱さんしょうするのが
bannzai’sannshou suru no ga
say banzai cheers
慣例かんれい
kannrei to
customary
なっています。
natte i masu.
it is
ある
aru
a
議員ぎいんは、
giinn ha,
member of the Diet
かつて
katsute
once
大臣だいじん
daijinn ni
a minister
就任しゅうにんした
shuuninn shita
he became
ときの
toki no
when
インタビューいんたびゅー
inntabyu-
an interview
で、
de,
in
「これで
“kore de
now
親孝行おやこうこう
oya’koukou ga
be filial to my parents
できた」と
dekita” to
I can
いました。
ii mashita.
said
これは、
kore ha,
this
当選とうせんして
tousenn shite
to get elected and
議員ぎいん
to get elected and
a legislator
なること、
naru koto,
become
大臣だいじんになることが
daijinn ni naru koto ga
(or) [become] a minister
目的もくてき
mokuteki
the goal
da
is
という
to iu
that
本心ほんしん
honnshinn wo
real
物語ものがたっている
monogatatte iru
that tells us
エピソードえぴそーど
episo-do
an episode
でしょう。
deshou.
is
一方いっぽう
ippou de
on the other hand
国民こくみん
kokuminn ga
people
もとめているのは、
people
motomete iru no ha,
公約こうやく
kouyaku wo
their campaign pledge
実現じつげんした
jitsugenn shita
he or she fulfills
とき
toki ni
when
はじめて
hajimete
only
ダルマだるま
daruma
the Dharma
ni
on
れ、
me wo ire,
who paint the eye and
万歳ばんざい三唱さんしょうする
bannzai’sannshou suru
says banzai
政治家せいじかです。
seiji’ka desu.
a politician

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