US election results reported FROM Japan

Interest in U.S. Presidential Election proves Japanese never leave Fort Lee.

"Dear Pat san

How have you been?
I just listend to Obama`s win speech and Romney`s concession speech
It was quite impressing presidensila (sic) election.What do you think about this election?

Regards

Ryuzo"

At 8 am on November 7, I knew no more than I did in a darkened house on November 6.

I couldn’t watch the election returns on TV.  Couldn’t listen to the radio.

No newspaper at the front door.

The message – from Japan – and visible on my cellphone – was the first election results I was able to get.

Ryuzo Kaku and his family lived in Fort Lee for just five years, when, as most Japanese in the Borough,  Ryuzo was transferred to his employer’s New York office.  Two years after returning to Japan, they transferred to Dubai for four years and then came back to Japan.

That e-mail is yet another clear indication  that Japanese never really leave Fort Lee – their “American” home, where they come to understand our “American” way of life.

Throughout the present Presidential election cycle – and those of the past (Ryuzo was here during the first Bush presidency) – Fort Lee offers Japanese residents, who, as temporary corporate employees, cannot get Green Cards or apply for Citizenship, a living example of democracy at work.

Seated in the dining room of The Charlton apartments in Fort Lee, Ryuzo taught  me about the Japanese political system: Japanese vote for a Party only. The winning Party selects the Prime Minister. Feeling cut off from direct choice, Japanese often do not bother to vote. The chosen Prime Minister can be voted out – by his party (not her yet) – and a new election held at any time.

(A Google search of Japanese Prime Ministers from 2002 to 2012 brings up too many names to include here!)

Campaign signs on front lawns are a shock for Japanese - and an indication of individual involvement in the electoral process. They have no voting booths as we do, polling with cards received by mail and brought in-person.  Often they have an idea who the Party will select, but the matter is out of their individual hand.

When my power came back I replied to Ryuzo, voicing my surprise that his message from Japan was my announcement of the election results.

I expressed my surprise at his interest in our Presidential election after so many years away from Fort Lee, and received this reply:

“Because American President has huge power and influence on the world (of course including Japan) we are so interested in this election. Same as you.I am very pleased to see the breaking news of CNN (in Japan it was around 1:30pm)

(Almost Jpanese [sic] people have  the same thoght [sic] of me, because Romny [sic] and his vice president are a little bit shardy [sic] and fishy, they are a kind of new capitalism persons from Wall street.”

Over the past several days I have received a number of messages from Japan, these in response to the storm, which has hit their "home" in Fort Lee, and much reported in Japan,including one from Midori Obata, whose e-mail address is “fortleemama.” All of them are expressing hope for their former neighbors in Fort Lee experiencing the superstorm Sandy.