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Election Cars

The Japanese political system

The Japanese political system is a democratic system that was originally based on the German Diet system. There are two houses - the lower house or the House of Representatives and the upper house or the House of Councilors.

There are a number of general elections held periodically to elect the members. The House of Representatives elections are held every four years. The House of Councillors elections are held every three years to choose half of the members.

The prime minister is decided by the ruling party and the Emperor is “the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people".

In this blog for Japanese language speakers by Japanese teacher Akari Ueno, the topic of the elections and in particular "Election cars" is in discussion. Read this blog and study Japanese for free, also watch the video on YouTube to practice your Japanese listening.

選挙カー
Election Cars

ueno

By UENO Akari

Election-car

 日本では、先月衆議院が解散し、それにともない、日本全国で総選挙が行われました。投票日当日は、ちょうどハロウィンの日と重なりました。その影響からなのか、選挙に無関心な人たちが増えているからかは分かりませんが、今回の投票率は55.93%で、前回より少し上がったものの、戦後3番目の低さとなりました。

 日本には、「選挙カー」という、選挙運動のための車があります。立候補者や同乗しているスタッフは、車の中からその立候補者の名前を連呼したり、政策について説明したりしながら、朝から晩まで街中を大音量で宣伝して回ります。これは法律で認められており、投票日前日まで続きます。

 「うるさすぎてお昼寝中の赤ちゃんが起きてしまった」「家にいながらにして、どんな人がいるか、どんな政策なのか分かっていい」と、賛否両論あるこの「選挙カー」ですが、世界的に見ても、なかなかユニークな選挙活動の方法なのではないでしょうか。

To listen to this blog, please watch our Youtube video.

選挙(せんきょ)カー

 日本(にほん)では、先月(せんげつ)衆議院(しゅうぎいん)が解散(かいさん)し、それにともない、日本全国(にほんぜんこく)で総選挙(そうせんきょ)が行(おこな)われました。投票日(とうひょうび)当日(とうじつ)は、ちょうどハロウィンの日(ひ)と重(かさ)なりました。その影響(えいきょう)からなのか、選挙(せんきょ)に無関心(むかんしん)な人(ひと)たちが増(ふ)えているからかは分(わ)かりませんが、今回(こんかい)の投票率(とうひょうりつ)は55.93%で、前回(ぜんかい)より少(すこ)し上(あ)がったものの、戦後(せんご)3番目(さんばんめ)の低(ひく)さとなりました。

 日本(にほん)には、「選挙(せんきょ)カー」という、選挙運動(せんきょうんどう)のための車(くるま)があります。立候補者(りっこうほしゃ)や同乗(どうじょう)しているスタッフは、車の中からその立候補者(りっこうほしゃ)の名前(なまえ)を連呼(れんこ)したり、政策(せいさく)について説明(せつめい)したりしながら、朝(あさ)から晩(ばん)まで街中(まちなか)を大音量(だいおんりょう)で宣伝(せんでん)して回(まわ)ります。これは法律(ほうりつ)で認(みと)められており、投票日(とうひょうび)前日(ぜんじつ)まで続(つづ)きます。

 「うるさすぎてお昼寝中(ひるねちゅう)の赤(あか)ちゃんが起(お)きてしまった」「家(いえ)にいながらにして、どんな人(ひと)がいるか、どんな政策(せいさく)なのか分(わ)かっていい」と、賛否両論(さんぴりょうろん)あるこの「選挙(せんきょ)カー」ですが、世界的(せかいてき)に見(み)ても、なかなかユニークな選挙活動(せんきょかつどう)の方法(ほうほう)なのではないでしょうか。

Election Cars

In Japan, the House of Representatives was dissolved last month and with it, general elections were held across the country. The election day coincided with Halloween. I don’t know whether that was the influence, or whether because more people are losing interest in elections, but the turnout this time was 55.93%, the third lowest in the post-war period, although slightly higher than last time.

In Japan, there is a type of vehicle called a “campaign car” or “election car” which is used for campaigning. From morning to night, the candidates and the staff in the car advertise loudly in the streets, calling out the candidates' names and explaining their policies from inside the car. This is permitted by law and lasts until the day before polling day.

The pros and cons of this are for example people who say, “It was so loud it woke up my napping baby” and those who say, “It’s good to know who is running and what their policies are while you are in your house” makes these “election cars” quite controversial. But even when seen from a global standpoint, they are certainly a unique way of campaigning.

◆選挙(せんきょ):election

◆衆議院(しゅうぎいん):House of Representatives

◆総選挙(そうせんきょ):general election

◆投票日(とうひょうび):election day

◆投票率(とうひょうりつ):voting rate

◆戦後(せんご):in the postwar period; after the end of World WarⅡ

◆選挙運動(せんきょうんどう):election campaign

◆立候補者(りっこうほしゃ):candidate

◆連呼(れんこ)する:to call repeatedly

◆政策(せいさく):policy

◆宣伝(せんでん)する:to publicize

◆法律(ほうりつ):law

◆賛否両論(さんぴりょうろん): the pros and cons

ueno

Hajimemashite everyone ! My name is Akari Ueno.
I live in Tokyo with my husband and daughter. I have had the experience of living in Hokkaido, Yokohama and Singapore.
I studied History in university, so I love touring around historical ruins. When I was younger, I went to see the Great Pyramids and Borobudur in Indonesia, but now I merely tour around the neighborhood parks with my daughter. I dream of touring around the world's famous ruins with my daughter one day.

When I study languages, one English phrase always comes to mind, "Use it, or lose it". I used to be scared of making mistakes, so even when I learned new vocabulary, I didn't use it. But after learning this English phrase from a friend, I started to use the vocabulary and terms I'd learned without fear of making mistakes.

Try to use your newly learned vocabulary and phrases all the time in the lessons. Looking forward to meeting you all in class !

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