Former Democratic Party of Japan chief Ichiro Ozawa is likely to strengthen his political activities after his April 26 acquittal by the Tokyo District Court of a charge of conspiring with his secretaries to falsify reports of Rikuzankai, his political funds management body.
Allthough lawyers acting as prosecutors Wednesday appealed the April 26 ruling to the Tokyo High Court, the DPJ had earlier decided Tuesday, on the initiative of DPJ Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi, an ally of Mr. Ozawa, to withdraw its disciplinary measure against him. After his indictment in January 2011 on a charge of violating the Political Funds Control Law, the DPJ temporarily suspended Mr. Ozawa's party membership.
The party's decision Tuesday may embolden Mr. Ozawa to accelerate his political activities, especially his campaign against Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's plan to eventually double the rate of the consumption tax from the current 5 percent to 10 percent from October 2015. But he must be prudent and cautious in his behavior. Mr. Ozawa should realize that just shouting a slogan to oppose the tax hike and Mr. Noda's politics will not work.