Do you know all roads lead to Kasumigaseki?

Text: Satoru KAMIYA (Japan)

Dear friends, do you know the jargon "Onobori-san"? Those who visit Tokyo are called "Onobori-san." The trains coming up to Tokyo are called "Nobori-Densha," or "Up Train" and trains leaving Tokyo are called "Kudari-Densha" or "Down Train." From 400 years ago when Tokyo became the center of politics, the city has been regarded as higher in position than other local places. The slang "Onobori-san" means country man or hick.

Tax is gathered by the Japanese Government and distributed as subsidies to local administrative offices. Therefore, Governors and Mayors pay visits to the Government offices at Kasumigaseki to obtain money. Under these circumstances, the position of central Government incidentally becomes stronger and local Governments have to obey them. Subsidies are only granted projects that reflect for the policies of central Government, ie; roads, dams, Shinkansen lines, etc.

Now, a positive changes are being initiated by local Governments to demand that the subsidy payments should stop and tax should be collected directly by local Governments. If this plan is accepted, local Governments will be free to use the money in whatever ways they think necessary. We will see how this develops.

From the beginning, the direction of the expressways has become the symbol of the power of Kasumigaseki. All roads leading to Tokyo must bypass Kasumigaseki. For instance, when you go to Ikebukuro or Shibuya from Shinjuku, you have to go through Kasumigaseki, which takes about three times longer and causes traffic jams.

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