Prior to the Lower House elections June 25, commentators both here and abroad complained that the parties weren't putting forth concrete proposals, but instead only vague assurances that they would rebuild the economy and return Japan to its former glory as the world's last bastion of civility.
In the midst of all this hand-wringing the media ignored one important aspect, namely that the election laws themselves indirectly assist in this obfuscation and vagueness.
During the designated campaign period, newspapers and broadcasters cannot show or report individual candidates unless they show or report all of his or her opponents. The purpose of this rule, which is to ensure balanced coverage of all the candidates and parties, is understandable but it can get out of hand.