Trust-based leadership has a long history. It was a fundamental component of legitimate authority in ancient Greece and Rome. Public trust was a practical requirement for efficient governance in both societies, not just a moral ideal. Leaders such as Pericles, Solon, and Cincinnatus exemplified this concept by winning and retaining the trust of the people. Pericles believed that respect and trust between leaders and citizens were essential to Athens’ democracy. On the other hand, Julius Caesar’s fate highlights the danger of betraying that trust and shows how its deterioration could result in political collapse. These instances demonstrate how trust was essential to leadership’s survival and success in the ancient world. In democracies, leadership is a trust agreement between the governed and the governing class, as well as a function of power and authority. The legitimacy of leadership is questioned when this trust is violated, either verbally or physically. This piece suggests that Japan captures the true essence of this intersection of legitimate authority and public trust by exploring how cultural norms, symbolic sensitivity, and leadership standards interact and how such interaction influences political behavior in the country.

The significance of accountability and responsibility in governance in Japan is noteworthy, as it is common to have leaders resign over remarks deemed inappropriate by the public. For example, Yoshiro Mori, who chaired the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee, resigned in February 2021, five months before the event, after being accused of making sexist remarks against some female members of the committee. Mori apologized and resigned from his position, stating, “What is important […] It must not be the case that my presence becomes an obstacle to that.” Similarly, Heita Kawakatsu, former governor of Shizuoka Prefecture, resigned for what many described as “occupational discrimination”. Kawakatsu, while inaugurating newly employed staff of the prefecture, was quoted as saying, “Unlike those who sell vegetables, raise cattle and make things, you are highly intellectual people.” In Japan, a country that thrives on respect for others and........

© E-International