Below is an Asahi Shimbun Political column editorial by Yoichi Kato titled, "Gaps in political biorhythm and policies of DPJ and Obama Administration" found in the 24 Aug 09 paper. It is one of many positions that pundits in Japan hold. The views are varied and often conflicting, especially since it seems Japan changes Prime Ministers like I change socks. Yes, that means often (if not daily, pun intended). With that said, I am sitting on the fence on the opinion below.Why am I fence-sitting? Well, I expect pressure to build in relocating US Marines from Okinawa to Guam (probably a one-year delay from the original plan). Looking at the Global War on Terrorism and the "reallocation" of US Forces in Far and Near East Asia, Japan will once again be left a few steps back politically in their drive to "balance" the US-Japan Alliance. Better yet, they will be missing a few teeth when, if, the DPJ takes over. I bet China will use Japan's period of transition to lag on certain economic and territorial issues.Japan continues to move closer in providing additional military, I mean, logistical support to the US, most recently in Africa. I previously blogged about China's lead in Africa using "soft-power" with a nice dose of  hard-power contributions waiting in the wings. The continued problem with China’s moves is that the country spreads money around freely and without being fettered by any rules set by the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC), which are applied to the industrialized countries. All China wants is to do is secure resources. China doesn’t care to whom they grant money: human rights violators or dictators. Japan on the other hand still has to deal with “poverty, hunger, infectious disease, conflict — words that readily come to mind when Japanese consider Africa.”So what does gap should Japan worry about? The US-Japan gap, China-Japan gap or the "you're losing your street cred" gap. The biggest challenge for Japan is that on its current scale it will no longer be able to compete. Japan no longer possesses the economic power that posed a threat to the U.S. at the end of the Cold War and with the current scramble for resources by many nations, it may be left out in the cold. The writer below makes a good point but there are sharper issues that need to be considered! As Tobias Harris stated, "The DPJ won’t be taking Japanese foreign policy in a new direction, certainly not in its first year or two."

"In Japan, the possibility of a change of government has moved closer to reality. Both Tokyo and Washington appear to be ready for "making a fresh start." However, it seems that it will be difficult for the two countries to return to the starting point because there remain two large gaps in the positions of the two countries.Political Biorhythm"One of the two gaps is a difference in political biorhythm.The U.S. administration launched an overall review of the U.S. diplomatic and security strategies immediately after its inauguration. The Obama administration is trying to recreate the East Asia Strategy Report (EASR), which was first set up by the Clinton administration. The Obama administration plans to complete a new EASR by early next year.However, Tokyo is unlikely to act in concert with Washington. Japan is scheduled to compile a new National Defense Program Outline by the end of the year. If an administration-led by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is inaugurated, there is a rumor that the compilation of the new National Defense Outline will be delayed for one year. The U.S. side reportedly was informed by sources familiar with the DPJ that until the party wins a single-party majority in the Upper House in next summer, it will be unable to do full-scale policy making.In next summer, the United States will enter an inward-looking mode an eye on the mid-term congressional elections in the fall. The political situations of the two countries will not get along this year and next year."[ad#468x60-ad]Alliance PolicyThe other gap is in the contents of the alliance policy.Washington wants Japan not to refer to such core issues as the U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and an agreement on the realignment of U.S. Forces Japan that consist the bases of the bilateral alliance. The U.S. side has warned that the USFJ realignment agreement is like building blocks in that if you touch one issue, the whole agreement could collapse. This has not changed even under the Obama administration.The U.S. administration is very much concerned because the DPJ, however, asserts that it will review the USFJ realignment agreement. Although the DPJ uses a soft expression in its manifesto for the Aug. 30 House of Representatives election, DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama stated on the relocation of the U.S. Marine's Air Station Futenma in a party-heads debate on Aug. 17: "We have no intention to alter our basic position (of seeking the relocation of Futenma out of Okinawa)."Support ratings for the Obama administration have dropped due to its medical insurance reform problem. The U.S. government expects Japan to become a partner able to increase policy resources by bring about diplomatic achievements. It does not want a negotiator that eats up policy resources by "realigning" the USFJ realignment. Amid the growing possibility of the DPJ assuming the reins of government, some U.S. administration officials are perplexed at the possible birth of a DPJ government and some have given up hope."[ad#468x60-ad]