A Kind Country is Better than a Strong Country: The Story of Kozo Igarashi, Former Mayor of Asahikawa and Former Chief Cabinet Secretary

This is the first full-scale critical biography of Igarashi Kozo, a former member of the House of Representatives who served as Chief Cabinet Secretary in the Murayama coalition government, which advocated "a kind country over a strong one." The author, who covered Igarashi's career as a reporter for the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper, portrays the life of Igarashi Kozo, both as a politician and as a person. This is a cautionary tale for a time when authoritarianism is on the rise worldwide and calls for a "strong country" are increasing even in Japan.