Prime Minister Taro Aso has come out rather harsh against the job-placement practices of bureaucrats in postretiretment. But it is unclear whether this change of mind will lead to effective control of the practices criticized for giving unfair advantages to bureaucrats.

The practice of retired bureaucrats landing lucrative jobs at entities under the jurisdictions of the ministries or agencies that they worked for is called amakudari (descent from heaven). Repeatedly landing such posts for a short stint and collecting retirement allowances each time is called watari (migration). Most such bureaucrats retire before reaching retirement age.

On Jan. 29, Mr. Aso indicated that he will prohibit government ministries and agencies from making arrangements for watari. Nevertheless, he did not touch on a December government ordinance that allows watari in extremely exceptional cases over the next three years. Opposition forces had called for rescinding this ordinance.