TOKYO – Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa, a top politician in Japan’s ruling Democratic Party, spoke out in favor of Buddhism while calling Christianity “exclusive and self-righteous” and labeling Islam as only somewhat better, Reuters reported on November 11.  The Secretary General made the remarks while meeting with the head of the Japan Buddhist Federation, a group traditionally close to the rival Liberal Democratic Party. Religious organizations can pack clout in Japanese politics because of their ability to mobilize voters, but politicians tend to shun public remarks about people’s beliefs.