Restricting Amakudari is Focus of Diet Extension

Japan's PM wants to ensure a law is passed to restrict the "amakudari" practice – when bureaucrats retire and get well-paying jobs in the private sector because of their enduring 'influence.'

Japan's current Diet session has been extended for 12 days through July 5th to ensure action is taken on the bill during the current Diet sessiion.

An education package has already been approved by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito.

Another upper house panel has endorsed a bill to extend by two years Japan's Air

Self-Defense Force deployment in helping reconstruct Iraq.

The one that has not passed – restricting amakudari – is the

one PM Abe wants next. However, opposition parties plan to block him by submitting a no-confidence motion against the prime minister.

It's amazing that anything ever gets done by politicians, with people standing on the other side just because someone has to stand there if for no better reason.

Of course, retiring politicians in the West never take advantage of their previously held government positions, do they?