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.
岸田内閣総理大臣が
kishida naikaku’souri’daijinn ga
Prime Minister Kishida
衆議院解散を宣言し、
shuugiinn’kaisann wo senngenn shi,
declared the dissolution of the House of Representatives and
衆議院議員総選挙が
shuugiinn’giinn sou’sennkyo ga
a general election for the House of Representatives
行われました。
okonaware mashita.
was held
「解散」
“kaisann”
to dissolve the government
「総選挙」
“sou’sennkyo”
a general election
権限は
kenngenn ha
the authority
総理大臣
souri’daijinn
the prime minister
そこには常に
soko niha tsune ni
always
総理大臣
souri’daijinn
the prime minister
内閣の
naikaku no
his cabinet
思惑が
omowaku ga
their own expectations
解散した
kaisann shita
(the Diet) is dissolved
衆議院議員
shuugiinn’giinn
members of the House of Representatives
(現465名)が
(genn yonnhyaku rokujuugo mei) ga
currently four hundred and sixty-five [persons]
議員職
giinn’shoku
their positions
解かれます。
tokare masu.
will be released
元議員たちは
moto’giinn tachi ha
former members of the House of Representatives
「再就職」のため、
“sai’shuushoku” no tame,
reemployment for
志す
kokorozasu
who want to become
新人は
shinnjinn ha
newcomers
初当選
hatsu’tousenn
their first election
選挙運動を行います。
sennkyo’posuta- ya okonai masu.
will campaign
選挙ポスターや
sennkyo’posuta- ya
election posters
SNS
esu enu esu
social media
告知し、
kokuchi shi,
advertise
街頭
gaitou
(and) on the streets
選挙カー
sennkyo’ka-
campaign cars
演説を
ennzetsu wo
speeches
行います。
okonai masu.
they give
衆議院議員
shuugiinn’giinn
a member of the House of Representatives
任期は
ninnki ha
the term of office
当選
tousenn
they are elected
大抵の場合は
taitei no baai ha
usually
多くの収入を
ooku no shuunyuu wo
a large income
得られ、
erare,
they can earn and
しない限り
shi nai kagiri
unless they make
生活は
seikatsu ha
their life
そのため、
sono tame,
therefore
無難に
bunann ni
by making safe choices
続けようとする
tsudukeyou to suru
are trying to keep their seats
議員も
giinn mo
legislators
少なくありません。
sukunaku ari masenn.
many
政治家
seiji’ka
politicians
当選が
tousenn ga
their election
確定した
kakutei shita
is confirmed
目を入れて、
me wo irete,
me wo irete,
万歳三唱するのが
bannzai’sannshou suru no ga
say banzai cheers
慣例と
kannrei to
customary
なっています。
natte i masu.
it is
議員は、
giinn ha,
member of the Diet
大臣に
daijinn ni
a minister
就任した
shuuninn shita
he became
インタビュー
inntabyu-
an interview
親孝行が
oya’koukou ga
be filial to my parents
当選して
tousenn shite
to get elected and
議員に
to get elected and
a legislator
大臣になることが
daijinn ni naru koto ga
(or) [become] a minister
物語っている
monogatatte iru
that tells us
エピソード
episo-do
an episode
一方で
ippou de
on the other hand
国民が
kokuminn ga
people
求めているのは、
people
motomete iru no ha,
公約を
kouyaku wo
their campaign pledge
実現した
jitsugenn shita
he or she fulfills
目を入れ、
me wo ire,
who paint the eye and
万歳三唱する
bannzai’sannshou suru
says banzai
政治家です。
seiji’ka desu.
a politician