His tactics in the Diet deepen cynicism in politics.

Acreative clash of ideas and opinions seldom occurs during question and answer sessions in the Diet. This is because of a formula in which party leaders and top government officials take turns firing off questions and answers in unilateral speeches instead of engaging in debate-style battles. Listening to these Diet sessions is usually a frustrating experience.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi must have decided to follow such a formula at a recent Diet session by refusing to deepen debate on important policy issues. He seems bent on using these sessions only as a forum to cast himself as a champion of reform against his political foes trying to thwart his efforts for changes.

Koizumi apparently saw no reason to offer serious answers to a second set of questions from opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) on Monday. Minshuto members, irked by Koizumi's attitude, walked out of the Lower House chamber in a temporary boycott of the session, prompting House Speaker Yohei Kono to deliver an unusual admonition to the prime minister to make sincere responses to opposition questions.

But Koizumi shows no signs of regret. On Tuesday, he even countered the criticism, saying there is nothing wrong in handling party representatives' questions at plenary sessions in a different manner from the way he deals with questions at committee sessions.

The Diet is a venue for political battles. Without serious efforts by the prime minister to give responsible and straightforward answers, however, the people are left clueless as to whether he has strong arguments concerning policy issues. Koizumi cannot escape the charge of being arrogant if he only tries to provoke the opposition parties.

But that's probably Koizumi's political style. During a representative interpellation one year ago too, he refused to answer Minshuto's second set of questions, saying bluntly, ``I know you are unsatisfied, but I have already answered all your questions.''

Even a one-sided answer can be meaningful for the public if it represents a detailed and logical explanation. But Koizumi's answers are far from the detailed explanations he claims to be offering.

Koizumi faces strong opposition from his Liberal Democratic Party to his plan to privatize postal services. Mikio Aoki, an LDP heavyweight, urged Koizumi to change his basic posture toward the issue. But Koizumi responded by lauding Aoki as the best supporter of his reforms.

Neither Aoki nor Koizumi referred to specific questions related to postal privatization. They probably think the open forum of the Diet is not a good place for real political haggling or deal-making. But such an attitude of political leaders only deepens public cynicism toward politics.

It will soon be four years since voters enthusiastically welcomed Koizumi as a new type of leader who, unlike many politicians, doesn't vacillate in the face of gutsy political decisions and who loudly declares his intentions with short, catchy phrases.

But Koizumi's unique language no longer intrigues the public. Not only has he made political compromises with the anti-reform forces within the LDP over many key issues, but his half-hearted, often thoughtless remarks have made the people doubtful about his ability to communicate effectively and make correct political decisions.

Koizumi dared to say his failure to deliver on his policy promises is no big deal. He also dodged questions about his past working records related to public pension premium payments by saying, ``There are various kinds of life.''

Concerning the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces to Iraq, he said, ``How can I know which parts (of Iraq) are combat zones and which parts are noncombat zones?'' and ``The area where the SDF troops are operating is a noncombat zone.''

He provided these statements during question and answer sessions of Diet committees and debates with opposition party leaders, which he describes as important opportunities for policy debate.

Minshuto's walkout is open to criticism. The opposition party needs to stage effective and damaging attacks against Koizumi during Budget Committee sessions to win public support.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 26(IHT/Asahi: January 27,2005)