「楽しい日本」とは：2025年1月26日（日）

1月24日（金）より，150日間（会期末は6月22日予定）の第217回通常国会が始まり，初日に衆参両院本会議における石破内閣総理大臣による施政方針演説が行われた。

　石破総理大臣は，就任後初の通常国会における施政方針演説のなかで，これまで強調してきた地方創生を具体的に進めるための「令和の日本列島改造」の5本柱（①若者や女性に選ばれる地方，②産官学の地方移転と創生，③地方イノベーション創生構想，④新時代のインフラ整備，⑤都道府県域を超えた広域連携の枠組みの推進）と，「楽しい日本」という国家ビジョンを表明することにより，石破カラーをアピールした。

　「楽しい」ことは素直に良いことだ。しかし，突然に「楽しさ」が自然発生することはない。加えて，「楽しさ」の感じ方は，期間（短期・長期）と空間（地域）で差異が生じるものであり，個人各様の千差万別の主観的価値に基づくもので差異があること，「楽（らく）あれば，苦もある」の社会常識にどのように立ち向かうのか，「楽しい日本」になるための具体的施策の中身が提示されなければ，場合によっては宗教論争になりかねないと，いくらでもケチがつけられる。これらのことを承知のうえで，施政方針演説に盛り込んだのだろうか。

　さらに言えば，余計なことかもしれないが，仮に，現状の日本が「楽しい日本」であれば，国家ビジョンとして「楽しい日本」を掲げることは誠に無意味なことである。つまり，現状の日本は「楽しくない日本」であるので，「楽しい日本」にする（変える）国家ビジョンに何某かの意義があるとの論立てが成り立つわけであり，政府が現状認識として「楽しくない日本」だと表明していることと全く同義である。

　個人的には，これまでの政権とは異なり，演説のなかで「持続可能性」と「自立」の重要性をアピールした点を高く評価しているが，このことを前面に打ち出して，積極的かつ意欲的に，誰もが共感できる具体的施策を提示してほしかった。

“What ‘Enjoyable Japan’ Means” - Sunday, January 26, 2025

On Friday, January 24, the 217th Regular Session of the National Diet began, set to last for 150 days (with the session’s end scheduled for June 22). On the first day, Prime Minister Ishiba delivered his policy speech to both houses of the Diet.

In his first policy speech at a regular Diet session since taking office, Prime Minister Ishiba outlined the five pillars of his plan for advancing regional revitalization, which he has long emphasized, under the initiative "Reiwa-era Japanese Archipelago Reconstruction." These five pillars are: (1) making rural areas attractive to young people and women, (2) relocating and revitalizing industry, government, and academia in local areas, (3) creating local innovation, (4) infrastructure development for the new era, and (5) promoting interregional cooperation beyond prefectural boundaries. In addition, by presenting the national vision of a "Fun Japan," Ishiba emphasized his distinct political style.

The idea of "fun" is inherently a good thing. However, "fun" does not spontaneously emerge out of nowhere. Moreover, the perception of "fun" varies based on time (short-term vs. long-term) and space (regions), and it is based on the subjective values of individuals, which can differ greatly. Without presenting specific policies for achieving a "Fun Japan," the idea could easily be criticized as an abstract concept, possibly leading to endless debates. Was this taken into account when incorporating these ideas into the policy speech?

Furthermore, it may be unnecessary to say, but if Japan were already a "Fun Japan," presenting this as a national vision would be entirely meaningless. In other words, since Japan is not currently a "fun" country, the notion of transforming it into a "Fun Japan" holds some value as a national vision. This implies that the current reality of Japan is being acknowledged as "not fun," and the idea of change is presented with that understanding.

Personally, I highly appreciate that, unlike previous administrations, Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized the importance of "sustainability" and "self-reliance" in his speech. However, I would have preferred him to place these values at the forefront of his message, actively and enthusiastically presenting specific, concrete policies that everyone could resonate with.