When one party holds power for a long time, it tends to get corrupt because it is unchallenged. There has been an absence of alternating power in Japan and the LDP took full advantage of that. The LDP would receive money (both under the table and over) from big businesses to keep their interests high priority. The LDP’s interests include agriculture and big business and tend to favor the party in favor (Pharr 26). If a businessman wanted a certain contract or policy issued that would help their business, they would give money or gifts to Japanese politicians who in turn would heavily pressure the bureaucrats to favor the business owner's interest. “Political elections are like a competition among pickpockets” said Masanosuke Ikeda, a former member of Japan’s Diet. So who are these all-mighty bureaucrats that everyone tries to be in favor …show more content…
Susan Pharr gives the example of someone trying to open a business in Japan. It is extremely different from the free-market economy the United States has, and in Japan if one wished to open a business with more than 1500 square feet they would need the permission of the bureaucrats. To obtain that permission, they would go to a politician who could encourage the bureaucrats (26). Bureaucrats have significant leeway with their decisions and outcomes and paired with this type of government and economic system, it creates opportunities of corruption. However, many of their citizens argue that this is not an acceptable form of