Abe Shinzo – The Diplomat

Abe’s Unfinished Business: Japan’s Agriculture Reform

Zhuoran Li — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 00:08:00 +0900

Abe Shinzo is often considered Japan’s most powerful prime minister. But he faced steep political opposition in one of his primary goals.

Japan’s 2023 Development Cooperation Charter: The Aid-Security Nexus

James Kaizuka — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 04:29:00 +0900

Tokyo’s new blueprint for development assistance expands the role of one of Japan’s greatest national strengths into the realm of geostrategy, building on the philosophy of former PM Abe Shinzo.

Japan’s Kishida Fails to Learn Abe’s Political Lessons

Carlos Ramirez — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 02:25:00 +0900

Abe Shinzo learned the hard way: Voters don’t care about foreign policy achievements if the economy is struggling.

Abe Shinzo’s Political Faction to Select a New Leader

Mina Pollmann — Sat, 08 Oct 2022 04:08:00 +0900

The former prime minister still headed up the LDP's largest legislative faction at the time of his assassination. Can the next leader keep the group intact?

Abe’s Militaristic Funeral Captures Japan’s Internal Divisions

Foster Klug — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 23:17:00 +0900

20,000 police officers and more than 1,000 soldiers were on patrol as thousands of protesters took to the streets.

Jennifer Lind on Abe Shinzo and Japanese Nationalism

Catherine Putz — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 02:39:00 +0900

The LDP hosts a “constant struggle between people who favor more moderate patriotism and versus those favoring a more extreme nationalism. We see this not only in the LDP but within Abe himself.”

What Will Kishida Say on August 15 at Japan’s National Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead?

Mindy Kotler — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 01:00:00 +0900

Kishida has an opportunity to demonstrate his independence now that Abe is gone. Will he return to the legacy of the Murayama statement?

Abe Shinzo Excelled at Foreign Policy, But He Failed Women Badly

Sachiko Oshimo and Mark S. Cogan — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 10:45:00 +0900

The late Japanese leader stoked a reactionary social conservatism that reinforced the country's traditional gender roles.

Abe Shinzo’s Indo-Pacific Legacy

Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 03:43:00 +0900

Abe’s role and legacy in transforming Japan’s role in global affairs, as well as in enhancing India-Japan ties, cannot be emphasized enough.

Ex-Japan PM Abe’s Funeral Draws Foreign Delegates Paying Their Respects

Thisanka Siripala — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 01:15:00 +0900

Japan bid farewell to former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in a funeral service that drew public mourners and foreign dignitaries.

Across Party Lines, Taiwan Mourns Abe Shinzo

Brian Hioe — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 20:55:00 +0900

The former Japanese prime minister's support for Taiwan brought condolences even from the KMT, which is generally antagonistic toward Japan.

Japan’s Ruling Coalition Expands Majority in Elections After Abe’s Assassination

Thisanka Siripala — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 00:47:00 +0900

The upper house election took on heightened significance in the wake of former Prime Minister Abe’s assassination.

India Mourns Demise of ‘Great Friend’ Abe Shinzo

Sudha Ramachandran — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 03:09:00 +0900

Under Abe’s government, Japan’s ties with India expanded beyond economic relations to include nuclear and security cooperation too.

Assassination of Kingmaker Abe Will Consolidate Prime Minister Kishida’s Power

Kosuke Takahashi — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 01:39:00 +0900

The political shockwaves from Abe's assassination are just starting to be felt with the upper house election.

With Abe’s Assassination, the Indo-Pacific Lost Its Foremost Flag-Bearer

Titli Basu — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 21:40:00 +0900

From the Indo-Pacific to the Quad, Abe spearheaded the strategic concepts shaping the region today.

Southeast Asian Governments React to the Assassination of Abe Shinzo

Sebastian Strangio — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 08:22:00 +0900

The former Japanese leader has been remembered for spearheading a redoubling of Tokyo's engagement with the nations of the region.

Japan Struggles to Understand the Abe Assassination

Cristian Martini Grimaldi — Sun, 10 Jul 2022 22:46:00 +0900

The shocking murder highlighted Abe's unique stature. But aside from the high-profile target, the killing fit a pattern of lone wolf attacks in Japan.

Japan in Shock After Fatal Shooting of Former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo

Thisanka Siripala — Sat, 09 Jul 2022 02:42:00 +0900

Japan is reeling after the assassination of its longest-serving leader while on the campaign trail for the upcoming election.

Japan Ex-Leader Abe Shinzo Assassinated While Giving Speech

Mari Yamaguchi, Chisato Tanaka, and Foster Klug — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 19:29:00 +0900

The former prime minister, 67, was gunned down while campaigning for Sunday's upper house elections.

Suga Bows Out of Party Vote, Paves Way for New Japan Leader

Mari Yamaguchi — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 01:54:00 +0900

The Liberal Democrats and their coalition partner have a majority in parliament. Whoever wins the September 29 party vote is likely to become the new prime minister.

Abe Apologizes, But Isn’t Charged for Cherry Blossom Scandal

Associated Press — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 00:57:00 +0900

Prosecutors investigated whether Abe, his aide and two executives from his political support group had subsidized the party fees in violation of campaign and election funds laws.

Southeast Asia and Japan’s Indo-Pacific Vision: What’s Next After Suga’s ASEAN Tour?

Prashanth Parameswaran — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 10:07:00 +0900

The trip raised questions about continuity and change in Japan’s approach to Southeast Asia after Abe.

Prime Minister Suga Says Japan to Go Carbon-Free by 2050

Associated Press — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 09:30:00 +0900

Japan's new leader has portrayed the coming shift to green energy as an opportunity rather than a burden.

In Vietnam’s Capital, Japanese PM Pushes Indo-Pacific Vision

Sebastian Strangio — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 08:55:00 +0900

In building on Japan's complementary interests with Vietnam, Suga has signaled a clear continuity with his precedessor's foreign policy approach.

Japan’s Pragmatic New PM Pushes Abe’s Vision on Southeast Asia Trip

Associated Press — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 09:55:00 +0900

As Suga Yoshihide jets off on his first overseas trip as Japan's leader, he is battling a number of controversies at home.

After Abe, Will Press Freedom Improve in Japan?

Henry Laurence — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 01:26:00 +0900

New Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide is widely seen as a continuity choice. Will he change course on media freedoms?

Resetting Japan-Russia Relations

Michito Tsuruoka — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 14:30:00 +0900

Challenges for a new prime minister

After Abe, Opportunities Loom for Japan-Indonesia Relations

Noto Suoneto, Birgitta Riani, and Noto Suoneto and Birgitta Riani — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 11:17:00 +0900

Prime Minister Suga has a golden opportunity to deepen relations with key Indo-Pacific partners, including Indonesia.

What Can Asia Expect From Suga’s Japan?

Ankit Panda — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 00:43:00 +0900

Abe's successor will represent continuity, but faces a challenging set of internal issues.

Post-Abe, Vietnam-Japan Relations Have Nowhere to Go But Up

Hanh Nguyen — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 18:29:00 +0900

Whoever succeeds Abe Shinzo, the two nations have ample reasons to widen and deepen their cooperation across a host of domains.

Abe’s Regional Diplomacy: Results and Limitations

Mie Oba — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 19:55:00 +0900

Broad regional trends ultimately constrained an active foreign policy.

Assessing Abe Shinzo’s Geopolitical Legacy

Ankit Panda — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 12:12:00 +0900

A biographer of Japan’s outgoing prime minister discusses Abe’s lasting legacy on foreign affairs and trade.

Does Another Election Loom in Japan?

Yuki Tatsumi — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 20:58:00 +0900

A snap election may be political expedient for Abe, but do Japanese taxpayers need to pay for another election now?

Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe Visits Beijing

Shannon Tiezzi — Sat, 26 Apr 2014 04:47:00 +0900

Masuzoe's visit to Beijing shows China is willing to interact with Japan -- but only on its terms.

Shinzo Abe Is Not Welcome In China, And Never Will Be

Shannon Tiezzi — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 04:24:00 +0900

As long as Abe remains Prime Minister, don’t expect China-Japan ties to thaw.

Celebrating Mao and Visiting Yasukuni Shrine

Shannon Tiezzi — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 03:17:00 +0900

Plus, China's economic reforms, China's role in the Antarctic, and thoughts on space exploration. Friday China links.

China Responds to Japan’s Defense Package

Shannon Tiezzi — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 02:53:00 +0900

China's response to Japan's national security strategy reveals the underlying issues of history, distrust and hypocrisy.

A Referendum for Japan

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:05:00 +0900

Does any party have the ideas and vision needed to help Tokyo overcome its myriad challenges?

What Abe's Return Means for India-Japan Ties

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 01:41:00 +0900

With the former Prime Minister once again at the helm of the LDP, relations with India could receive a further boost.