Do most young japanese take interest in politics and election?

Question:

It seems to me very few Japanese want to talk about politics. Are the modern generation politically active?

Answer:

Very few Japanese people - let alone the young - are what I'd class as politically active.

Many people feel that the actions of their governments have little or nothing to do with them, and that regardless of the will of the people politicians will almost always act in their own self interests - and in the interests of their super-rich buddies.

To support my view that Japanese are politically apathetic, I'd say look at the low voter registration percentages, low voter turnout, and the fact that even at amazingly low approval ratings PMs are able to keep their job... (In 2001 then PM Mori slid to a 5.7% approval rating yet survived TWO no-confidence votes!)

This is just my take but remember... the Japanese people never fought for Democracy - they fought against it - though they lost and had democracy forced upon them. Democracy was just one more thing conferred from the ruling classes rather than the result of a groundswell of common emotion as happened in France & the US. Perhaps because of this they've never really taken to it as their own.

The quick thinking Japanese right-wing nationalist politicians of the 40s & 50s did however, setting themselves up a nice little merry-go-round that continues to this day. They were aided in this by the US who, while needing to be seen to install democracy, simply couldn't trust the people of Japan to choose democracy. Democratic Socialism was far too popular than the US wanted so they opted to rather support a right wing oligarchy parading as a democracy, simply to counter communist expansion in Asia.

I love Japan, and I love the Japanese people, but I fear a bloody and painful revolution may be required to really shake them awake politically.