The percentage of those who approve the performance of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's government has been rising, reaching 47.8 percent according to one of the media's opinion surveys. Compared to a similar survey taken at the time of the inauguration of the government, the percentage those who do not approve of it has been halved.

Last June 25, Obuchi celebrated his 62nd birthday with a party at his official residence. He looked quite happy. Many citizens must have seen him enjoying the party as it was televised nationwide. It was a happy occasion for him, but it made me feel somewhat unpleasant.

The nation is at the bottom of a protracted economic recession. Official statistics released by the government have put the number of the unemployed at 3 million, but I suspect that the actual figure is three times that because the government tends to conceal statistics that it considers undesirable, just as the Imperial Headquarters did during World War II.