• The Japanese Bureaucracy [Audio/Video/Text]
This video unit on the modern Japanese governmental bureaucracy covers its history and origins in the Meiji restoration, its various groups and divisions and scandals and reforms, and the culture of Japanese bureaucracy. Featuring Columbia University professor Gerald Curtis.
••••• Skip to any subtopic in this unit: Japanese bureaucrats Two groups Bureaucratic elite Japan's Horatio Alger myth Origins in Meiji restoration Prestige Ministry of Finance (MoF) Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI) Retirement: Amakudari (Descent from Heaven) Stability and Power Cabinet Ministers and Vice Ministers Calls for Reform 1990s Corruption Scandals Economic Policies in the 1990s The Myth of "Japan, Inc." •••••

• The Japanese Diet [Audio/Video/Text]
An audio/visual overview of the Japanese "diet" or parliament, covering the post-WWII development of this system, its leadership, its powers, and functions.
••••• Skip to any subtopic in this unit: Background history Post-World War II Comparative view of the system Role of opposition party Leadership choices Bicameral legislature: Lower House Bicameral legislature: Upper House Relative power of the houses Who runs for election  •••••

• Japan's Election Laws [Audio/Video/Text]
An audio/visual unit on Japan's election laws, covering the various restrictions and practices unique to Japanese politics and the overall effect of these practices on the political culture of Japan.
••••• Skip to any subtopic in this unit: Restrictions Loosening restrictions No house to house Suspicion about campaign activities  •••••

• Japan's Electoral Process, 1925-44 [Audio/Video/Text]
An audio/visual unit on the development of Japan's electoral system and the process by which politicians reach elected office, covering intra-party competition, the role of minority parties, recent reforms, new factions, and possible future objectives.
••••• Skip to any subtopic in this unit: Electoral system "Medium-size" district system Intra-party competition Minority party survival 1993-1994 reform New electoral system Reason for reform Reform and factions Objectives and results  •••••

• Factions in Japanese Politics [Audio/Video/Text]
An audio/visual unit on the role of political factions in Japanese politics, covering the role of factions within political parties, the various coalitions among the factions, politicians' various allegiances to factions, and the declining importance of factions in Japan's political culture.
••••• Skip to any subtopic in this unit: Introduction Factions & political parties Coalitions among factions Politicians' allegiance Declining importance of factions  •••••

• Interest Groups in Japanese Politics [Audio/Video/Text]
An audio/visual unit on the role of interest groups in Japanese politics, covering the major interest groups, their respective power and political clout, and the distinction between interest groups and lobbyists.
••••• Skip to any subtopic in this unit: Introduction Business Farmers Labor Three key federations Professionals Political clout Election of members Groups vs. lobbyists  •••••

• The Prime Minister and Leadership in Japanese Politics [Audio/Video/Text]
An audio/visual unit on the role of the prime minister in Japanese politics, covering the process by which they are elected, the leadership styles of past Japanese prime ministers, and the reasons for their relatively limited power.
••••• Skip to any subtopic in this unit: Selection Limited power Leadership by consensus Short term in office  •••••