Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is right to suggest amending the Constitution to allow the people to elect the prime minister directly. The government of Japan currently lacks the ability to make quick and firm policy decisions. The Japanese tradition of decision-making by a consensus of powerful individuals ensures that the same parliamentary system that provides strong leadership in Britain fails to work in Japan.

"Shadow shoguns" in Japan dilute the authority and capability of the prime minister to make the quick and effective decisions necessary for governing any large modern democracy. Power is so diffused among powerful politicians and bureaucrats that difficult decisions cannot be made. When powerful men disagree, there is no commonly accepted procedure for forcing a decision to be made. No one has the authority to speak and act for Japan.

Since the Japanese are unlikely to change decision making by a consensus of powerful individuals, Koizumi is right to suggest a modification of the constitutional structure to give the person holding the office of prime minister more influence and authority. Amending the Constitution to make the prime minister directly elected by all of the people would do much to give Japan the strong leadership it needs.