KARUIZAWA, Nagano Pref. -- Business executives called Friday on the nation's political parties to show voters their manifestos so that they can compete on the basis of concrete policy goals in the next general election.
Wrapping up a two-day annual seminar, the Japan Association of Corporate Executives issued an appeal to the parties to compile a list of detailed commitments to the public, rather than conventional coverall election slogans.
The association suggested that these manifestos should feature numerical targets, such as halving the spending on public works projects and raising the consumption tax rate to 19 percent by fiscal 2020.
"We call on each party to draw up policy pledges that will be carried out as government measures after the election," said Kakutaro Kitashiro, representing the association. "We believe that it will lead to the strengthening of political leadership."
Kitashiro, who also serves as chairman of IBM Japan Ltd, reiterated his claim that the structural reform progress of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's administration is too slow, although he voiced support for their direction.