Top 3 Dirty Politicians and Bureaucrats (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–18 … My Adventures in Japan)

“Japan ranks 20th in terms of corruption, just two places below the US (‘nuff said).”

With respect to its corruption, Japan is not very different from most other nations. But Kanemaru was special – or, especially wicked.   

The head of the most powerful faction of the dominant Liberal Democratic Party, Kanemaru was eventually arrested after the authorities found stacks of bearer bonds and piles of precious metals stashed away in his home. Three years later, divine justice took him to his grave. 

Not-so-transparent corruption

The country may be "average" in terms of corruption, but actually, that status does not indicate that all is good or proper or decent. In Transparency International’s ranking of corruption, Japan ranks 20th, just two places below the US ‘(nuff said), and just ahead of Uruguay and Estonia (too much implied).   

However, as indicated in the aforementioned Kanemaru case, it’s generally high-level corruption, in the halls of power and among the movers and shakers.     _{(Image source)}

Clearly clean

As for the politicians and bureaucrats, I should clarify that this does not refer to ALL of them. In fact, expats might live in Japan for years and never be confronted with even the remotest hint of corruption.    

Outside the halls of power and the corporate offices, there’s essentially no corruption. That's one of the reasons that expats like Japan so much, and one of the reasons they stay there.     _{(Image source)}

   Introduction to – “Notes from Under the Tatami Mats”  _{(right-click on title)}

Top 11 Stars I’ve Been Told that I Look Like

Bottom 8 Stars I’ve Been Told that I Look Like  

Bottom 3 Japanese Cults

... and more

Links to my Other Series …

      Introduction – "Intro to Vocab-ability"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Guide – "Guide to Entries"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Index– "Index" to all Chapters and Sections   _{(right-click on title)}

      Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"   _{(right-click on title)}

_{Images sourced from Google Images, unless otherwise indicated or unless my own.}