Politics is a topic many people prefer to avoid. Yet, whether we like it or not, it plays a fundamental role in shaping our society and everyday lives. If you live in Japan, do you know how Japan’s political system is shaped? Following the 2024 Minato Ward Mayor election, Coto Academy teachers Nagai-sensei and Hidari-sensei decided to sit down and discuss this.
In this episode of Coto Radio, Nagai-sensei and Hidari-sensei discuss the Japanese Diet: its size and main political parties, and how it compares with other countries’ political systems. They also discuss the bicameral system that helps balance power in Japan’s Diet, as well as the history of the Diet’s creation.
Welcome to Coto Radio, a Japanese learning podcast by Coto Japanese Academy, Japan’s No. 1 Japanese language school. Each episode, our host combines captivating storytelling with engaging conversations, all delivered in clear, natural Japanese.
As of 2024, Japan Has 712 Members of the Diet
According to 2024 data, Japan’s Diet consists of 712 members. This is a small number compared to other countries. For example, the country with the largest number of members in its political system, China, has 2,977 members in its National Assembly. In number two is the United Kingdom, with 1,434 members in its Parliament. In third is France, with 925 members.
Some countries hover around the same number of members as Japan’s, though. India and the United States, for example, have 760 and 535 members respectively, despite being two of the largest countries by population. The number of statespeople is not proportional to the population, as Hidari-sensei pointed out.
The Largest Political Party in Japan Is the Liberal Democratic Party, but There Are Also Non-Affiliated Members
In Japan, people vote for individual Diet members, but they can’t choose who leads each political party. Japan has 10 political parties, and the largest is the Liberal Democratic Party. As this episode was recorded in 2024, the Prime Minister, who also served as the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, was Fumio Kishida.
The second largest political party in Japan in 2024 was the Constitutional Democratic Party, but there are also members of the Diet who don’t belong to any party. These people run as Independents, and in that year, there were seven non-affiliated Diet members.
Japan Has Two Houses That Keep the Balance of Power in Check
In order to keep the balance of power in check between political parties, Japan has two legislatures, the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, otherwise known overseas as the Lower House and Upper House, respectively. During the Meiji Period, Japanese students studying in Europe and the United States took note of the bicameral system and brought it back with them to Japan, which resulted in the creation of the Diet. This bicameral system ensures that one party doesn’t make decisions that only benefit their party.
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New Vocabulary from the Podcast
| Japanese | Romaji | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 大統領 | daitouryou | President |
| 候補 | kouho | candidate |
| 演説（する） | enzetsu (suru) | (to give) a speech |
| 銃撃（する） | juugeki (suru) | (to commit) a shooting |
| 総理大臣／首相 | souridaijin/shushou | Prime Minister/Chancellor/Premier |
| ～たっぷり | ~tappuri | plentifully, generously |
| 衝撃的（な） | shougekiteki | devastating/shocking |
| 議会 | gikai | congress/parliament |
| 政党 | seitou | political party |
| 需要 | juyou | demand/request |
| 供給 | kyoukyuu | supply/provision |
| 多数決（をとる） | tasuuketsu | (to take) a majority vote |
| ～に比例する／しない | ~ni hirei suru/shinai | ～ in proportion to／not in proportion to |
| 所属（する） | shozoku (suru) | (to) belong to |
| 妥協（する／しない） | dakyou (suru/shinai) | To compromise/not to compromise |
| 二院制 | niinsei | Bicameral system |
| 衆議院／参議院 | shuugiin/sangiin | House of Representatives/House of Councillors |
| 上院議員／下院議員 | jouingiin/kaingiin | Upper House Member/Lower House Member |
New Grammar From The Podcast
| Grammar Pattern | Romaji | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ～（な）ことに… | ~ (na) koto ni… | ~that… | 残念なことに、グループのリーダーを選ぶことはできません。 |
Phrases You Should Know
| Phrase | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 命に別状はない | inochi ni betsujou wa nai | Non-life threatening |
| いわゆる～ | iwayuru~ | What is called, what you call |
| AとBが開く／開いている | A to B ga hiraku/hiraiteiru | A and B open/are open |
| ～気が／もする | ~ki ga/mo suru | ~feels like |
Podcast Transcript
The following is a transcript from an episode of Coto Radio, a podcast produced by Coto Academy and available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. For the complete experience, we recommend listening to the original audio. This transcript has been slightly edited for clarity and brevity.
Nagai-sensei
どうもこんにちは！Cotoラジオをお聞きいただきましてありがとうございます。
Doumo konnichiwa! Coto rajio wo okiki itadakimashite arigatou gozaimasu.
Hello everyone! Thank you for listening to Coto Radio.
こちらのCoto Radio for Japanese Learnersでは、日本のニュースや生活の中の話題について、できるだけ簡単な日本語を使って、できるだけナチュラルな話し方とスピードでお話をしていきます。
Kochira no Coto Radio for Japanese Learners de wa, nihon no nyuusu ya seikatsu no naka no wadai ni tsuite, dekiru dake kantan na nihongo wo tsukatte, dekiru dake nachuraru na hanashikata to supiido de ohanashiteikimasu.
Here on Coto Radio for Japanese Learners, we discuss Japanese news and everyday topics using the simplest Japanese possible, spoken in a natural style and at a natural pace.
語彙や文法については、先生の説明もあるので、ぜひ今回も最後までお聞きください！
Goi ya bunpou ni tsuite wa, sensei no setsumei mo aru no de, zehi konkao mo saigo made okiki kudasai!
We’ll also cover vocabulary and grammar with explanations from our teachers, so please listen to the whole episode too!
左先生よろしくお願いします。
Hidari sensei yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Hidari-sensei, pleasure to have you here.
Hidari-sensei:
はい、今日もお願いします。
Hai, kyou mo onegaishimasu.
Yes, it’s a pleasure to be here.
Nagai-sensei:
はい。あの～今日は2024年7月22日月曜なんですが、先週の月曜でしたか…日曜だったかな…。
Hai. Ano~kyou wa nisennijuuyonen shichigatsu nijuuninichi getsuyou nandesu ga, senshuu no getsuyou deshitaka… nichiyou datta kana…
Right. So today is Monday, July 22nd, 2024. Was it last Monday… or maybe Sunday…?
アメリカの大統領選挙に出るあの日本でも有名な候補者、candidateのトランプさん！
Amerika no daitouryou senkyo ni deru ano nihon de mo yuumeina kouhousha, candidate no toranpu san!
That candidate running for the U.S. presidency, Mr. Trump, who’s also famous in Japan!
Hidari-sensei:
以前の、バイデンさんの前の大統領でしたね。
Izen no, baiden san no mae no daitouryou deshita ne.
He was the President before Mr. Biden, right?
Nagai-sensei:
そう、そのトランプさんが、演説中に銃撃される、銃で撃たれる！という事件がありましたねー…。
Sou, sono toranpu san ga, enzetsuchuu ni juugekisareru, juu de utareru! Toiu jiken ga arimashita nee…
Yes, that Trump was shot during a speech! He was shot with a gun! That incident happened, didn’t it…
Hidari-sensei:
いや、本当ですね。怖い事件ですね。命に別状はないということなので何よりでした。Iya, hontou desu ne. Kowai jiken desu ne… Inochi ni betsujou wa nai toiu koto nanode nanyori deshita.
Yeah, it’s true. That’s a scary incident. It’s a relief to hear his life isn’t in danger.
Nagai-sensei:
そうですね、その後、3日後くらいにはまた大会で演説されてましたね！もういつもの自信たっぷりのトランプさんという印象でしたのでよかったですね元気で…。
Sou desu ne, sono ato, mikka ato kurai ni wa mata taikai de enzetsu saretemashita ne! Mou itsumo no jishin tappuri no Toranpu san toiu inshou deshita no de yokatta desu ne genki de…
Yes, and then about three days later, he was giving speeches at rallies again! He seemed like his usual confident self, so it’s good he’s doing well…
あの、日本でも、2年前に、ね、元総理大臣の安倍さんが撃たれて亡くなったという大事件がありました。あの事件も7月でしたねー。
Ano, nihon demo, ninen mae ni, ne, naikakusouri daijin abe san ga utarete nakunatta toiu daijiken ga arimashita. Ano jien mo shichigatsu deshita nee.
You know, in Japan too, two years ago, there was that major incident where former Prime Minister Abe was shot and killed. That incident was also in July, wasn’t it?
Hidari-sensei:
そうでした。そうでした。2022年の7月でした。もう2年経ちましたかー。
Soudeshita. Soudeshita. Nisennijuuninen no shichigatsu deshita. Mou ninen tachimashita kaa.
That’s right. It was July 2022. Has it really been two years already?
Nagai-sensei:
テレビで見たとはいえ…銃撃事件というのがなんか、日本人にとっても、すごく身近な事件になってしまったようで、個人的にもかなりショックを感じましたねー。
Terebi de mita towa ie… juugeki jiken toiu no ga nanka, nihonjin ni tottemo, sugoku mijina jiken ni natte shimatta youde, gojinteki ni mo kanari shokku wo kanjimashita nee.
Even though I only saw it on TV… this shooting incident somehow felt like it had become a very close-to-home event for Japanese people too. Personally, I was quite shocked by it.
Hidari-sensei:
そうですね。「衝・撃・的・な」な事件でした。
Sou desu ne. “shou・geki・teki・na” na jiken deshita.
Yes. It was a truly “shocking” incident.
Nagai-sensei:
はい、ということで、港区長の選挙、そして東京都知事選挙もありました、さらに今回のアメリカの事件もあったので、ちょっと今回は、政治の話、特に「議会」「政党」をテーマにして話してみようかなと思います！
Hai, toiu koto de, minatokucho no senkyo, soshite toukyouto chijisen senkyo mo arimashita, sara ni konkai no amerika no jiken mo atta no de, chotto konkai wa, seitou no hanashi, toku ni “gikai” “seitou” no teema ni shite hanashite miyou kana to omoimasu!
Right. So, with the Minato Ward Mayor election, the Tokyo Governor election, and now this incident in the US, I thought maybe this time we could focus on politics, especially the themes of “parliament” and “political parties”!
Hidari-sensei:
おおお～。結構そういう話をしたいという学習者の方も多いと思いますし、よいのではないでしょうか！？
Ooo~. Kekkou souiu hanashi wo shitai toiu gakushuusha no kata mo ooi to omoimasushi, yoi no de wa nai deshouka?!
Ooh~. I think many learners would want to talk about that too, so that sounds great!?
Nagai-sensei:
ね。需要「demand」はある…はずです！なので、ちょっとだけ供給「supply」しようかなと。
Ne. Juyou wa aru… hazu desu! Nanode, chotto dake kyoukyuu shiyou kana to.
Right. There should be demand for it… So I thought I’d try to supply a little bit.
Hidari-sensei:
はい。わかりました。ではその前に言葉の説明からです！「政党」…行きましょうか。
Hai. Wakarimashita. Dewa sono mae ni kotoba no setsumei kara desu! “” ikimashouka.
Okay. Understood. Before we dive in, let’s start with the terminology! “Political party”… Shall we?
政党は英語だとpolitical partyですね。自分の国や社会に対して、同じ目的を持っていっしょにシステムやルールを作ろう！
Seitou wa eigo de political party desu ne. Jibun no kuni ya shakai ni taishite onaji mokuteki wo motte isshoni shisutemu ya ruuru wo tsukrou!
They call it a “political” party in English. It’s a group formed by people who engage in political activities, aiming to create systems and rules together for their country or society based on shared goals!
…という政治活動をする人たちが集まって作るグループです。
…toiu seijikatsudou wo suru hitotachi ga atsumatte tsuku guruupu desu.
…that’s the kind of political activity they engage in.
もちろん、人数が多ければ多いほど「多数決（majority vote.）」の力は強くなります！
Mochiron, ninzuu ga ookereba ooi hodo “tasuuketsu” no chikara wa tsuyoku narimasu!
Of course, the more members you have, the stronger the power of majority vote becomes!
Nagai-sensei:
はい。 日本には、国会議員と言われる人たちが、約700人います。なんかね、この人数を減らしたほうがいい！という意見もあり、議論はずっと何年もされてますけど…。
Hai. Nihon ni wa, kokkaigiin to iwareru hitotachi ga, yaku nanahyakunin imasu. Nanka ne, kono ninzuu wo herashita hou ga ii! Toiu iken mo ari, giron wa zutto nannen mo saretemasu kedo…
Right. Japan has about 700 members of the Diet. You know, there are opinions saying we should reduce this number! The debate has been going on for years…
Hidari-sensei:
確かに。ちなみに、この国会議員の数というのは、他の国と比べたらどうなんでしょうね。
Tashika ni. Chinami ni, kono kokkaigiin no kazu toiu no wa, hoka no kuni to kurabeta dou nandeshoune.
True. By the way, how does Japan’s number of Diet members compare to other countries?
Nagai-sensei:
あ～、これね、調べたんですが、2024年の2月のデータだと、やっぱりというか予想通り、中国が一番多くて、2,977人。
A~, kore ne, shirabetandesu ga, nisennijuuyonen no nigatsu no deeta dato, yappari toiu ja yosoudoori, chugoku ga ichiban ookute, nisenkyuuhyakunanajuunana nin.
Ah, I looked this up. According to February 2024 data, unsurprisingly, China has the most with 2,977 members.
この数は2位のイギリスの1434人とはすごく開いてますね。3位はフランスで925人でした。
Kono kazu wa nii no igirisu no senyonhyakusanjuuyonin to wa sugoku hiraiteimasu ne. Sani wa furansu de kyuuhyakunijuugonin deshita.
This number is significantly higher than second-place UK’s 1,434 members. France was third with 925 members.
あと、おや？って思ったのは、インド！ インドは、人口が、populationが日本の10倍、世界一位なのに、国会議員の数は760人。
Ato, oya? Tte omotta no wa, indo! Indo wa, jinkou ga population ga nihon no juubai, sekaiichi kurai nanoni, kokkaigiin no kazu wa nanahyakurokujuu nin.
Also, what surprised me was India! India has a population ten times that of Japan—the world’s largest—yet only 760 members of parliament.
日本とほぼ同じです。あと、トランプさんのアメリカは、535人となってます。
Nihon to hobo onaji desu. Ato, toranpu san no amerika wa, gohyakusanjuugonin to nattemasu.
That’s almost the same as Japan. And Trump’s America has 535 members.
Hidari-sensei:
なるほど、人口の数と同じ順番にはなっていないんですね。”比例していない”The number of parliament members is not proportional to the population.ですね。なんか、日本とインドと比べると日本はとても多い気がしますが、2位のイギリスと比べると日本は少ないのかなあ？…という気もしますね。
I see, so the order doesn’t match the population size. The number of parliament members isn’t proportional to the population. Somehow, comparing Japan and India, Japan seems to have a lot more, but compared to second-place Britain, maybe Japan has fewer? …That’s what I feel too.
Nagai-sensei:
はい、僕もそう思いました。ねー比較しにくいんですよね。まあアメリカは、国と同じくらい「州」の議員が力を持っていますというか、忙しい、大変！というイメージがあるので、それが理由で国会議員の数としては少ないのかなという気もします。
Hai, boku mo sou omoimashita. Nee hikaku shi nikuindesuyo ne. Maa amerika wa, kuni to onaji kurai “shuu” no giin ga chikara wo motteimasu toiuka, isogashii, taihen! Toiu imeeji ga aru no de, sore ga riyuu de kokkaigiin no kazu toshite sukunai no gana toiu ki mo shimasu.
Yes, I thought that too. It’s hard to compare, isn’t it? Well, in America, the state legislators hold power almost as much as the federal government, or rather, they have a reputation for being busy and having a tough job! So maybe that’s why the number of federal representatives is relatively small.
Nagai-sensei:
はい、で、日本ではその700人正確には712人が国の政治、つまり「国政」を担当し、日本という国を少しでも住みやすくて安全な国になるように、ね、これを聞いている皆さんがいつでもワクワクしながら来てくれるような国にするために…
Hai, de, nihon de wa sono nanahyaku seikaku niwa nanahyakujuuni nin ga kuni no seiji, tsumari “kokusei” wo tantoushi, nihon toiu kuni wo sukoshi demo sumi yasukute anzenna kuni ni naru you ni, be, kore wo kiiteiru minasan ga itsudemo wakuwaku shi nagara kitekureru youna kuni ni suru tame ni…
Yes, and in Japan, those 700 people—actually 712—are responsible for national politics, meaning “national affairs.” They work to make Japan a slightly more livable and safer country, you know, to make it a place where everyone listening here can always come with excitement…
ちゃんとやってるかどうかは心配なところもありますが、とにかく、そのために毎日いろいろな仕事をしている…んです！
Chanto yatteru ka douka shinpaia tokoro mo arimasu ga, tonikaku sono tameni mainichi iroirona shigoto wo shiteiru…ndesu!
Whether they’re doing it properly is a bit worrying, but anyway, they’re working hard every day for that purpose…!
Hidari-sensei:
はい、そして、その国会議員の中で一番人数が多い政党が、「自由民主党」ですね。The Liberal Democratic Party。で、そのPartyのトップの岸田さんが、今の日本の総理大臣、「首相」ということですね。
Hai. Soshite, sono kokkaigiin no naka de ichiban ninzuu ga ooi seitou ga, jiyuuminshutou desu ne. The Liberal Democratic Party. De, sono Party no toppu no kishida san ga, ima no nihon no souridaijin, “shushou” toiu koto desu ne.
Yes, and the party with the most members in the Diet is the Liberal Democratic Party. The Liberal Democratic Party. And the leader of that party, Mr. Kishida, is the current Prime Minister of Japan.
Nagai-sensei:
そう、それが、「政党政治」という日本の政治の特徴です。我々が投票するのは国会議員の一人一人なんですが、残念なことに、その人が参加しているグループのリーダーを選ぶことは出来ません。
Sou, sore ga, seitouseiji toiu nihon no seitou no tokuchou desu. Wareware ga touhyou suru no wa kokkaigiin no hitorihitori nandesu ga, zannen na koto ni, so hito ga sankashiteiru guruuup no riidaa wo erabu koto wa dekimasen.
Right, that’s a key feature of Japan’s “party politics.” We vote for individual Diet members, but unfortunately, we can’t choose the leader of the group they belong to.
Hidari-sensei:
学習者の皆さんも聞いたことがあるかな～と思います。自民党！あと、他にもいろんな政党がありますよね。
Gakushuusha no minasan mo kiita koto ga aru kana~ to omoimasu. Jimintou! Ato, hokani mo ironna seitou ga arimasune.
I bet you’ve heard of it too, learners~ The LDP! And there are lots of other parties too, right?
Nagai-sensei:
はい、国会議員だけで10党くらいありますかね。でもやっぱり自民党には、2位の「立憲民主党」の3倍くらいの人が所属していますから、大きくて有名。
Hai, kokkaigiin dakede juutou kurai arimasukane. Demo yappari jimintou ni wa, nii “rikkenminshutou” no sanbai kurai no hito ga shozokushiteimasu kara, ookikute yuumei.
Yes, there are about 10 parties just among Diet members. But the LDP is still large and famous, with about three times as many members as the second-largest party, the Constitutional Democratic Party.
あとは、もちろん、私はどのグループにも所属していません！という自分の意見・気持ちに妥協しない！という方もいます！
Ato wa, mochiron, watashi wa dono guruuup ni mo shozokushiteimasen! Toiu jibun no iken・kimochi ni dakyou shinai! Toiu kara mo imasu!
Then, of course, there are also people who say, “I don’t belong to any group!” and refuse to compromise on their own opinions and feelings!
Hidari-sensei:
はい、「所属する」は政治の話をする時は欠かせない言葉ですね。簡単にいうと「belong to どこどこ」です。そのグループやチームにメンバーとして名前があります…という意味です。
Hai, “shozokusuru” wa seitou wo hanashi wo suru toki wa kakasenai kotoba desu ne. Kantan ni iu to “belong to dokodoko” desu. Sono guruupu ya
Yes, “belong to” is an essential term when discussing politics. Simply put, it means “belong to such-and-such.” It signifies that your name is listed as a member of that group or team…
Nagai-sensei:
はい、ありがとうございます！
Hai, arigatou gozaimasu!
Yes, thank you!
Hidari-sensei:
あと、もう一つ。「妥協する／しない」も大事な言葉です。
Ato, mou hitotsu. “Dakyou suru/shinai” mo daijina kotoba desu.
Also, one more thing. “To compromise/not compromise” is another important term.
Nagai-sensei:
そうですね。ビジネスシーンでもよく使いますよーみなさん！
Sou desu ne. Bijinesushiin demo yoku tsukaimasuyoo minasan!
That’s right. We use it a lot in business situations too, everyone!
Hidari-sensei:
妥協するとは、「まあ、これくらいでいいかな！」と途中でOKを出すことです。まあ100％思っていた結果じゃないけど、許すことができないわけじゃない、という、ポジティブな気持ちで使ってください。
Dakyousuru to wa, “maa, kore kurai de ii kana!” to tochuu de OK wo dasu koto desu. Maa hyaku paasento omotteita kekka janaikedo, yuusu koto ga dekinai wake janai, toiu, pojitibuna kimochi de tsukatte kudasai.
To compromise means to say, “Well, this is good enough!” and give your OK partway through. Use it with a positive mindset—it’s not that you can’t accept it, even if it’s not 100% what you envisioned.
「もう無理だ！やーめた！」と諦めるのではなくて、「それが無理ならしょうがないじゃあその中でどうしようか…」というイメージですね。妥協できるライン、ポイントを、「妥協点」とも言います。
“Mou muri da! yaameta!” to yameru no de wa nakute, “sore ga muri nara shouganai jaa sono naka de dou shiyouka…” toiu imeeji desune.
It’s not about giving up and saying, “This is impossible! I quit!” but rather thinking, “If that’s impossible, then what can we do within these constraints…” The line or point where you can compromise is also called a “compromise point.”
なので、さっきの話ですけど…、自分の考えていることと本当に100%同じことを考えている人がいないのであれば、「まああなたの政党とは85%くらい同じだから…」と言って一緒になるんじゃなくて「いや私はあなたのグループには所属しません！」という人、どのグループにも所属していない人たちを「無・所属」といいます。
Nanode, sakki no hanashi desu kedo…, jibun no kangaeteiru koto to hontou ni hyaku paasento onaji koto wo kangaeteiru hito ga inai no de areba, “maa anata no seitou to wa hachijuugo paasento kurai onaji dakara…” to itte isshoni narunjanakute “iya watashi wa anata no guruuup ni wa shozoku shimasen!” to iu hito, dono guruupu ni mo shozoku shiteinai hitotachi wo “mu・shozoku” to iimasu.
So, going back to earlier… if no one else shares your exact 100% views, instead of saying “Well, I agree with your party about 85% of the time…” and joining them, someone who says “No, I won’t join your group!” – those people who belong to no group are called “non-affiliated.”
Nagai-sensei:
はい、ありがとうございます。現在日本には無所属の国会議員が7名いらっしゃいますねー。そうです！
Hai, arigatou gozaimasu. Genzai nihon ni wa mushozoku no kokkaigiin ga nana me irasshaimasunee. Sou desu!
Yes, thank you. Currently, there are seven non-affiliated Diet members in Japan, right? That’s right!
私も仕事についてはあんまり妥協しないんですが、ビールとか居酒屋の予約とか、結構妥協してますね…。
Watashi mo shigoto ni tsuite anmari dakyou shinaindesu ga, biiru toka izakaya no yoyaku toka, kekkou dakyou shitemasune…
I don’t compromise much when it comes to work either, but I compromise quite a bit on things like beer or making reservations at izakayas…
Hidari-sensei:
ほう、例えば？？
Hou, tatoeba??
Oh, for example??
Nagai-sensei:
今日は～、サッポロ！黒ラベルが飲みたい！！いい仕事したから黒ラベル飲みたい！…という気持ちで帰り道にコンビニに寄って、・・・あ！黒ラベル売ってない！・・・ムム、ま、じゃあ、キリンラガーで…いっか。みたいな妥協。
Kyou wa~ Sapporor! Kuro raberu ga nomitai!! ii shigoto shita kara kuro raberu nomitai! …toiu kimochi de kaeri michi ni konbini ni yotte, …a! Kuro raberu uttenai! …mumu, ma, jaa, Kirin ragaa de… ikka. Mitaina dakyou.
Like today~, I wanted Sapporo! Black Label!! I did a good job today, so I wanted Black Label!… With that feeling, I stopped by the convenience store on my way home, and… Oh! They don’t have Black Label!… Hmm, well, then, Kirin Lager… I guess. That kind of compromise.
Hidari-sensei:
はあ…。
Haa…
Huh…
Nagai-sensei:
あとはね、そう、居酒屋予約した時に、「18:30からはちょーっとお席が空いてなくて、19:15からだったら4名様入れるんですがいかがでしょうか？」みたいな時に・・・ムム、ま、じゃあそれでいっか。みたいな妥協。
Ato wa ne, sou, izakaya yoyakushita toki ni, “juuhachijihan kara wa chootto oseki ga suitenakute, juukuji juugofun kara dattara yonmesama irerundesu ga ikagadeshouka?” mitaina toki ni… mumu, ma, jaa soredeikka. Mitaina dakyou.
And then, yeah, like when you book a spot at an izakaya and they say, “We’re a bit tight on seats starting at 6:30 PM, but we can fit four people starting at 7:15 PM. How about that?”… Hmm, well, I guess that’ll do. That kind of compromise.
Hidari-sensei:
なんか話が小さいですね。国政の話でした…よね！？
Nanka hanashi ga chiisai desu ne.
This conversation feels kinda small. We were talking about national politics… right!?
Nagai-sensei:
すみません。先生は、先生はなんかないんですか？妥協する／しない、妥協できる／したくないというストーリー！？
Sumimasen. Sensei wa, sensei wa nanka naindesuka? Dakyou suru/shinai, dakyou dekiru/shitakunai toiu sutoorii!?
Sorry. What about you, Sensei? Any stories about compromising/not compromising, being able to compromise/not wanting to compromise!?
Hidari-sensei:
私はよく「妥協」します。限られた条件の中で何ができるかを考えるほうが得意です。
Watashi wa yoku “dakyou” shimasu. Kagirareta jouken no naka de nani ga dekiruka wo kangaeru hou ga tokui desu.
I compromise quite often. I’m better at figuring out what can be done within limited conditions.
Nagai-sensei
なるほど。かなりポジティブな妥協ですね！
Naruhodo. Kanari pojitibu na dakyou desu ne!
I see. That’s quite a positive kind of compromise!
Nagai-sensei:
あの、アメリカは共和党（Republican Party）と民主党（Democratic Party）が2つの大きい政党、2大政党として、お互いを注意して見ていますよね。
Ano, amerika wa kyouwatou (Republican Party) to minshutou (Democratic Party) ga futatsu no ooki seitou, nidaiseitou toshite, otagai wo chuuishite mireimasuyone.
Well, in America, the Republican Party and the Democratic Party are the two major parties, right? They keep each other in check.
Hidari-sensei:
はい、そうですね。特に国のルールやシステムですからね。１つのグループに任せたら、その人たちだけが幸せになるようなものを作ってしまう可能性もあります。
Hai, soudesu ne. Toku ni kuni no ruuru ya shisutemu desu kara ne. Hitotsu no guruup ni makasetara, sono hitotachi dake ga shiawase ni naru youna mono wo tsukutteshimasu kanousei mo arimasu.
Yes, that’s right. Especially since it’s about the country’s rules and systems. If you leave it to just one group, they might create something that only benefits themselves.
Nagai-sensei:
はい、なので、何か決まったことをもう一回ちゃんとチェックする もう一つの党じゃなくて、もっと大きい議会そのものもあります。いわゆる二院制というシステムですね。
Hai, nanode, nanika kimatta koto wo mou ikkai chanto chekku suru mouhitotsu no tou janakute, motto ooki gikai sono mono mo arimasu. Iwayuru niinsei tiou shisutemu desu ne.
Yes, so to properly check decisions made by one party, there’s not just another party, but the larger parliament itself. That’s the so-called bicameral system.
Hidari-sensei:
はい、日本だと衆議院と参議院。という制度です。海外だと上院／the Upper House、Senate、Lords、下院／the Lower House、Commons、Representatives と、呼ばれていますね。
Hai, nihon dato shuugiin to sangiin. Toiu seido desu. Kaigai dato jouin/the Upper House, Senate, Lords, kain/ the Lower House, Commons, Representatives to, yobareteimasune.
Yes, in Japan it’s the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors. Overseas, they’re called the Upper House/Senate/Lords and the Lower House/Commons/Representatives.
Nagai-sensei:
はい。明治時代になって、欧米に留学した日本人が、二院制をしっかり勉強して持って帰って来て、今の日本の議会システムができました。
Hai. Meiji jidai ni natte, oubei ni ryuugakushita nihonjin ga, niinsei wo shikkari benkyoushite motte kaette kite, ima no nihon no gikai shisutemu ga dekimashita.
Yes. During the Meiji era, Japanese students studying abroad in Europe and America thoroughly researched the bicameral system and brought it back, leading to Japan’s current parliamentary system.
Hidari-sensei:
はい。たくさん勉強させていただきました！
Hai. Takusan benkyousasete itadakimashita!
Yes. I learned so much!
Nagai-sensei:
今度は代わりに、日本語教えますから！
Kondo wa kawari ni, nihongo oshiemasu kara!
Next time, I’ll teach you Japanese in return!
Hidari-sensei:
ですねー！ 待ってまーす！！
Desunee! Mattemaasu!
Right! I’ll be waiting!!
Nagai-sensei:
はーい。ん～…こうやって改めて考えてみると、やっぱり我が家も何かと二院制でもっとよく議論したほうがいいと思うことがいっぱいありますね～。
Haai. N~… kouyatte aratamete oshiete miru to, yappari wagaie mo nanika to niinsei de motto yoku gironshita hou ga ii to omou koto ga ippai arimasune~.
Right. Hmm… Thinking about it like this, I realize there are so many things in my own household that would benefit from more discussion under a bicameral system.
週末の夜に見るテレビ番組とか、旅行先お出かけ先とか…父の日のプレゼントとか…。
Shuumatsu no yoru ni miru terebi bangou toka, ryokousaki odekakesaki toka, chichi no hi no purezento toka…
Like what TV shows to watch on weekend nights, where to go on trips… Father’s Day gifts…
Hidari-sensei:
先生は、話を聞いてると、ご家庭では無所属っぽいですよね…。
Sensei wa, hanashi wo kiiteru to, gokatei de mushozokuppoi desuyo ne…
Listening to you talk, Sensei, you seem pretty much like an independent member in your household…
Nagai-sensei:
まあ、確かに「長井家の無所属議員」ですね。
Maa, tashikani “Nagai ke no mushozoku giin” desu ne.
Well, I suppose I am the “Independent Member of the Nagai House.”
Hidari-sensei:
やっぱり！
Yappari!
As expected!
Nagai-sensei:
これからは無所属でも長井家の「上院議員」として決まったことのダブルチェックができるようになれたらいいなと！思います！
Kore kara wa mushozoku demo Nagai ke no “jouingiin” toshite kimatta koto no daburu chekku ga dekisu you ni naretara ii nado! Omoi masu!
Hidari-sensei:
みなさん、楽しみですね～！ いつなるんでしょうかね～？はい、といったところで、今回も私がしめちゃいましょう！
Minasan, tanoshimi desune~! Itsu narun deshoukane~? Hai, toitta tokoro de, konkai mo watashi ga shimechaimashou!
Everyone, this is exciting! When will it happen? Alright, with that said, I’ll wrap things up this time!
Nagai-sensei:
あ！ ん～でもこの流れは確かにそっちがいいかも！
A! n~demo kono nagare wa tashikani socchi ga iikamo!|
Ah! Hmm~ But this flow definitely works better that way!
Hidari-sensei:
Coto Radio For Japanese Learnersお相手はわたくし、左と
Coto Radio For Japanese Learners oaite wa watakushi, Hidari to
From Coto Radio For Japanese Learners, this has been your hosts, Hidari and…
Nagai-sensei:
Ｍｒ．Ｎａｇａｉでした…！
Mr. Nagai deshita…!
Mr. Nagai!
Nagai-sensei/Hidari-sensei:
それでは、じゃあ、また、次回～！
Sore de wa, jaa, mata, jikai~!
Well then, see you next time~!
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FAQ
How many members does the Japanese Diet have?
According to data from 2024, the Japanese Diet has at least 712 members. This is a small number of members compared to other countries such as France, the United Kingdom, and China.
What is the largest political party in Japan?
As of 2024, the largest political party in Japan is the Liberal Democratic Party. The second largest party in Japan is the Constitutional Democratic Party.
What are the two Houses of Japan’s Diet?
They are the House of Councillors, which is the Upper House, and the House of Representatives, which is the Lower House. Both Houses keep the balance of power in check.
Did you find this content interesting? Read (or listen) to more Coto Radio episodes, where our teacher dives deep into some unique questions about Japan.