"Japan's Abe Is the World's Best Leader"

[Yokohammer]

as I remember the voter turnout for Abe's election was pretty low.

These days , these stats are compiled by fans: Japanese general election, 2014: Turnout 52.66%
Looking back quickly through the last few elections, 2012: 59.32%
2009: 69.28%
2005: 67.51%
2003: 59.86% (Koizumi's attempt to get a popular mandate for his reform policies [sound familiar??] after gaining leadership, with a similarly low turnout possibly because of voter dissatisfaction with political games, and resulting in a reduced majority for him)
2000: 64.45%

Sacrifices made in conducting this research: I was confronted with this photo:

Sounds about right. I don't remember the hordes rushing to the polls en masse to ensure that ol' Abe got elected. He had made a bit of a tit of himself the first time around too, so probably wasn't exactly a pillar of popularity at the time.

[wagyl]

You can't really blame a low turnout on the winner alone. The lack of a compelling alternative also depresses turnout numbers.

The forgotten and the despised (I leave it to the reader to categorise.)

[Yokohammer]

Another little sideshow that is a bit worrying ... and another reason to question the government's motives.

Article at BloombergView.com:
Japan Dumbs Down Its Universities

Most people who follow news from Japan will be paying attention to the economy, or possibly to the fist-fight that broke out in the Diet over security policy. But there was a huge and very worrying change in Japanese education policy that somehow hasn't received much public notice.

Essentially, Japan’s government just ordered all of the country’s public universities to end education in the social sciences, the humanities and law.

The question that immediately popped into my mind is approached in the second part of the article.

There may or may not be political reasons for the change. Japan’s humanities departments, like those in the U.S., lean heavily to the political left, and Japan’s conservative administration is in the process of reorienting security policy. More darkly, the change might be part of a wider attempt by social conservatives -- Abe’s main power bloc -- to move the country in a more illiberal direction by stifling dissent and discussion. ...

[Russell]

Another little sideshow that is a bit worrying ... and another reason to question the government's motives.

Article at BloombergView.com:
Japan Dumbs Down Its Universities

Most people who follow news from Japan will be paying attention to the economy, or possibly to the fist-fight that broke out in the Diet over security policy. But there was a huge and very worrying change in Japanese education policy that somehow hasn't received much public notice.

Essentially, Japan’s government just ordered all of the country’s public universities to end education in the social sciences, the humanities and law.

The question that immediately popped into my mind is approached in the second part of the article.

There may or may not be political reasons for the change. Japan’s humanities departments, like those in the U.S., lean heavily to the political left, and Japan’s conservative administration is in the process of reorienting security policy. More darkly, the change might be part of a wider attempt by social conservatives -- Abe’s main power bloc -- to move the country in a more illiberal direction by stifling dissent and discussion. ...

Hammer, yes, this has been going on already for a while. Universities are currently forced to submit plans to make their Social Science departments more in line with the needs of society (=economic usefulness), or else their funding will be cut drastically.

This is very worrisome. I am not a social scientist, but it would be good to get some comments from one. Kurogane?

[Samurai_Jerk]

I find it funny that this guy thinks majoring in social sciences will make people future business leaders.

[Takechanpoo]

the minister of ECSST required national universities to reduce or abolish the liberal arts departments on the ground of decreacing number of children.
otherwise it will cut the subsidiary aids for them.......
http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/10275725/
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLASDG0 ... 0C1CR8000/

Abe administration even plans to destroy the last stronghold of J-leftwingers.

liberal arts does need for education( especially for elites one). otherwise netouyo guys seize power just like Abe

[Coligny]

the minister of ECSST required national universities to reduce or abolish the liberal arts departments on the ground of decreacing number of children.
otherwise it will cut the subsidiary aids for them.......
http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/10275725/
http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLASDG0 ... 0C1CR8000/

Abe administration even plans to destroy the last stronghold of J-leftwingers.

liberal arts does need for education( especially for elites one). otherwise netouyo guys seize power just like Abe

True, after all, Hitler started up as a painter...

[Samurai_Jerk]

Reports say Japan's Abe to air plan for $5 trillion economy

Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe, fresh from a bruising battle over unpopular military legislation, plans to announce a fresh outline for reviving the world's third-largest economy that would set a GDP target of 600 trillion yen ($5 trillion).

The national broadcaster NHK and other media said Abe will explain his plan in a news conference Thursday evening.

[...]

NHK said Abe will outline plans for better social services to lighten the burden of child and elder care for struggling families in the coming three years of his administration. He also will pledge more help for the poor, especially children living in poverty.

Japan's economy, estimated at $4.6 trillion in 2014, contracted at a 1.2 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter. Economists have warned that China's slowdown and market turmoil might weaken an expected recovery.

[Russell]

In other news it was reported that Russell plans to have a 5 billion Yen salary...

[Yokohammer]

Just watched Abe's press conference.
Hallelujah, he has three NEW economic arrows to release!

Quite a lot of hot air, but more power to him if he can hit that 600 trillion target.
I think the reality is he wants to schmooze the public so he can sit tight for his second three-year term.


~ Tapatalking ~

[Russell]

Just watched Abe's press conference.
Hallelujah, he has three NEW economic arrows to release!

Quite a lot of hot air, but more power to him if he can hit that 600 trillion target.
I think the reality is he wants to schmooze the public so he can sit tight for his second three-year term.

I am sure he can deliver.

Hell, he may even be able to deliver that 5 billion Yen yearly salary to me.

If only he creates enough hyperinflation...

[Coligny]

I am sure he can deliver.

Hell, he may even be able to deliver that 5 billion Yen yearly salary to me.
.

New mistress or just putting monies aside for the Bugatti Chiron ? (Carefull, since they cancelled the Galibier he new one have no backseat either...)

[Russell]

I am sure he can deliver.

Hell, he may even be able to deliver that 5 billion Yen yearly salary to me.
.

New mistress or just putting monies aside for the Bugatti Chiron ? (Carefull, since they cancelled the Galibier he new one have no backseat either...)

You conveniently left out the last sentence that would explain how I would be able to get such a salary and Abe such an economy. Hint, Zimbabwe used to have a quadrillion (Zimbabwe) dollar economy.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Just what are his three new arrows?

Abe said his new "three arrows" are a strong economy, support for child rearing and improved social security, to lighten the burden of child and elder care for struggling families. But with Japan also committed to reducing its massive public debt, it is unclear how he intends to achieve those goals.

[Wage Slave]

Abe said his new "three arrows" are a strong economy, support for child rearing and improved social security, to lighten the burden of child and elder care for struggling families. But with Japan also committed to reducing its massive public debt, it is unclear how he intends to achieve those goals.

That's easy - He's going to command and decree it so. Especially the much bigger, stronger economy needed to pay for all the child and old folk care we can look forward to. And vote for ...

[Russell]

A really worrying video about press freedom in Japan

[Samurai_Jerk]

A really worrying video about press freedom in Japan

Nice summary but he is not a good public speaker. Or maybe that was just an off day.

[Russell]

A really worrying video about press freedom in Japan

Nice summary but he is not a good public speaker. Or maybe that was just an off day.

Yep, agreed.

He has a lot to learn as a speaker. He was likely ill-prepared too.

[Coligny]

He's no steve jobs but on par with most head of labs/research team that i've known.

Much better than any automotive CEO striking his ego at a car launch... (Well aside from the vw guys who have to learn to enjoy their shit pie...)

[Yokohammer]

He might not have presented the information as well as he could have, but the core of the message is clear and relevant, and that's what really matters.

We don't know how that presentation came about or what hurdles had to be cleared to make it happen, so we probably shouldn't give him a hard time for his presentation skills.

[Yokohammer]

Anyone else catch this development?
Looks like Ishiba is trying to position himself to take over from Abe ... whenever.

With eye on succeeding Abe, Ishiba launches own LDP faction

Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight and current minister for regional revitalization Shigeru Ishiba launched his own faction within the ruling party Monday, with an eye toward succeeding Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as the party’s next president.

A total of 19 LDP lawmakers joined Ishiba’s new faction, making it the sixth-biggest among the party’s eight factions. The members include former Vice Finance Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa, former financial services minister Yuji Yamamoto, former environment minister Ichiro Kamoshita and former health minister Norihisa Tamura.

“If someone like me could be picked to take the helm of government, then I would like to aim for that,” Ishiba, 58, said at a Tokyo news conference.

“I would like to draw-up policies by looking 50 and 100 years into the future. … We want to serve as a policy group that can gain the understanding of the citizenry,” Ishiba said.

...

n-ishiba-a-20150929-870x668.jpg

[Coligny]

Good guy or bad guy ?

[Yokohammer]

Good guy or bad guy ?

A bit of a hawk (and weirdo) and potentially dangerous.
More dangerous than Abe? Not sure. He's sending a relatively soft, conciliatory message at the moment, but of course he's not PM yet either.

A couple of clues from Wikipedia (take with a Wikipedia-size grain of salt):

Ishiba is known as a "gunji otaku" (military geek) and has a keen interest in military matters. He is known for having a lot of expertise related to weapons systems, legal issues about defense and is also fond of building and painting models of aircraft and ships.

Ishiba has repeatedly stated that he believes that Japan needs its own equivalent of the United States Marine Corps to be able to defend its many small islands, in 2010 when he was policy chief for the LDP in opposition, and as secretary-general of the party in March 2013 after the LDP regained government.

In 2011, Ishiba backed the idea of Japan maintaining the capability of building nuclear weapons:

'I don't think Japan needs to possess nuclear weapons, but it's important to maintain our commercial reactors because it would allow us to produce a nuclear warhead in a short amount of time ... It's a tacit nuclear deterrent'

During the 2013 North Korean crisis, Ishiba stated that Japan had the right to deliver a preemptive strike against North Korea.

[matsuki]

Sounds like a bag of wind....full of gasoline fumes. Could come and go without incident but all it takes is one spark and...

[Takechanpoo]

Abes main power source is anti-japanism of china and korea.
as long as the two bitches dont quit it, no chance for Ishiba and opposition partys guys.

[Coligny]

Abes main power source is anti-japanism of china and korea.
as long as the two bitches dont quit it, no chance for Ishiba and opposition partys guys.

And the price of croissants at that baker rue Geoffroy St Hilaire. Best in Paris... But damn expensive...

Aren't you trying too hard to link stuff at almost random ? You know, the whole correlation/causation...

[kurogane]

Let the adoration begin!!!!!!!!!!


How Shinzo Abe Became Postwar Japan's Most Consequential Leader
By Bill Powell / September 29, 2015 6:33 AM EDT

http://www.newsweek.com/2015/10/09/shin ... 77715.html

i HAVEN'T READ IT YET............but here it is. Newsweek is still well regarded isn't it? Interesting title in the actual link compared to the external headline, anyways

shinzo-abe-critics-fear-militaristic-japan-future-

[Yokohammer]

Let the adoration begin!!!!!!!!!!


How Shinzo Abe Became Postwar Japan's Most Consequential Leader
By Bill Powell / September 29, 2015 6:33 AM EDT

http://www.newsweek.com/2015/10/09/shin ... 77715.html

i HAVEN'T READ IT YET............but here it is. Newsweek is still well regarded isn't it? Interesting title in the actual link compared to the external headline, anyways

shinzo-abe-critics-fear-militaristic-japan-future-

Interesting article. It mostly addresses points that have already come up in this thread, but puts them in one place for a comprehensive read. It doesn't come close to covering everything though, omitting details on how the security bill was rammed through, the state secrets law, efforts to rewrite history textbooks, and other worrying stepping stones to the authoritarian regime Abe is in the process of building. It does provide a pretty clear reference for his connection with his granddaddy.

It portrays Abe as consequential, to be sure ... but not necessarily in a good way.

Not a very long article, and well worth a quick read.

[kurogane]

Cool. Good review. BTW, just quickly, am I right in thinking that the procedural fast move they pulled with the reinterpretation of the self-defence clause the other day was a legislative committee vote and not the actual parliamentary promulgation? If so I am disgusted at the level of journalism displayed that never seemed to indicate that distinction. I don't mean to belittle the development, but passing committee and passing parliament are 2 rather different orders, even if the subsequent vote in the legislature will pass easily because of the majority. I might have not been reading all that closely, but that distinction would have stuck in my mind had it been mentioned. I saw it reading a Japanese article, which itself was not overly clear.

[Yokohammer]

... BTW, just quickly, am I right in thinking that the procedural fast move they pulled with the reinterpretation of the self-defence clause the other day was a legislative committee vote and not the actual parliamentary promulgation? ...

All done and finalized.
The bill was bulldozed through both houses within 24 hours.