Lies and Staging in Politics: 1974

Lies and Staging in Politics: 1974
In 1974, Japanese politics was like a stage performance. In the aftermath of the first oil crisis, prices soared and the lives of ordinary people were shaken with anxiety. In the midst of this situation, the Kakuei Tanaka administration promoted large-scale public works projects based on its "Theory of Reforming the Japanese Archipelago," but behind the scenes, a money-linkage problem surfaced, causing distrust among the public. Politicians repeated routine answers at press conferences and in the Diet while playing the role of "honesty. The article criticizes such behavior as "too much theatricality" and says, "Politicians have become actors who deceive the public. The floor of the Diet is like a stage set, the answers are scripts, and sincerity is merely a mask. This aversion to acting was reflected in the youth culture and satirical media of the time. The article calls for the resolve and responsibility of politicians, saying, "Politics is a serious game, and it should not
be a mass of lies and theatrics. The appearance of "Clean Miki" after Tanaka's resignation was welcomed as a ray of hope for sincerity without theatrics. 1974 was a turning point in the clash between politics filled with false performances and the public consciousness that confronted them.