The Liberal Democratic Party has ruled Japan since 1955 -- except for a period of less than a year from August 1993. The name LDP may suggest modern Western ideologies of liberty and democracy, but it is doubtful that the party has been the guardian of these principles.
Diet proceedings are hardly based on the democratic principle of conducting thorough debate. Government advisory panels are made up of members unilaterally selected by government departments and endorse decisions made in advance by them. The panels are in no position to offer expert advice or objective viewpoints, as they should.
Powerful ministries and agencies have no compunctions about manipulating the opinion of their advisory panels. I believe Japan is the only advanced country where important policies are developed through such undemocratic processes.