The June 25 Lower House election will test Japan's commitment to carry out reforms of its inward-looking political circles and accommodate various Asian views in the 21st century, Zhu Jianrong of Toyo Gakuen University said, noting the expectations of various non-Japanese Asians living in the country.
"It is high time Japanese politicians realized that their old-style politics, directed only to certain segments of voters, are outdated," said Jianrong, 42, a professor of Chinese studies who has lived in Japan almost 14 years.
Since coming to Japan in 1986 as a visiting researcher at a quasigovernmental think tank, Zhu has sought to enhance the rights of non-Japanese Asians living in the country while also pursuing his academic goals.