The Washington Post sarcastically asked the Japanese ruling party Saturday to take a "multicellular view" when they choose the next party leader Tuesday, referring to a recent remark by party kingpin Ichiro Ozawa that Americans are "somewhat unicellular."
In an editorial titled " 'Simple-minded' Americans might want to pay attention to Japan's election," the U.S. daily said the choice between Prime Minister Naoto Kan, the incumbent president of the Democratic Party of Japan, and Ozawa is consequential for the United States as the winner will automatically become prime minister of the long-time U.S. ally.
"Exactly what governing philosophy Mr. Ozawa would bring to the job is hard to say, because his professed ideologies have mutated over the years. But in his current incarnation he is less friendly to the U.S.-Japan alliance, and more attracted to China's dictatorship, than most Japanese leaders — and, according to polls, than most Japanese," it said.
The daily also touched on Ozawa's remarks that he would reopen negotiations with Washington over the realignment of U.S. forces in Okinawa.