business

Businesses want Abe to focus on economy, not military bills

29 Comments
By Tetsushi Kajimoto and Izumi Nakagawa

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29 Comments
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The monthly Reuters Corporate Survey showed 62% of companies oppose enacting the bills this session,

Key word here....THIS session. It doesnt mean that they are against the bills being enacted, just that they want the economy to be the priority. Once the economy is humming along, I'll bet they change their tune.

Yet seeing as this is Japan, and if the past two decades are any indicator of progress, the security bills could be shelved for another 2 or 3 decades if the business critters get their way.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

This is all one big game and ego-trip to prove to grandpa that botchan can re-beautify this country.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

This is all one big game and ego-trip to prove to grandpa that botchan can re-beautify this country.

Re-beautify? How so? By having everyone wearing camouflage fatigues?

0 ( +4 / -4 )

How about redenominating the Yen for a change?

I've always wondered why Japan keeps its currency at such an unpalatable level that is sure to be reflective more on its historical development than the current one. In Romania, once the Central Bank got confident the currency was stabilized enough it went with redenominating the currency: it simply cut four zeroes. Hence what used to cost let's say 40.000,00 ROL ended up costing 4 RON.

It strikes me Japan could do a similar move and cut two zeroes so as instead of a rate of 122,9 Yen/USD to have 1,229 Yen/USD. The psychological effect can be quite good both on domestic markets and international markets. At a rate of 1,229, nobody would wonder why the Yen is so weak.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

His emphasis on expanding the military's role and the constitution was his big mistake during his first term.

It looks like he's making it again.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Most Japanese firms oppose Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s efforts to push through legislation next month that will expand the country’s military reach

Except for firms starting with M and K just itching to grow a domestic military-industrial complex.

@morticiadimedici,

1,229 Yen/USD

You want to use . instead of , for decimals in English, or it looks like a thousand two hundred twenty nine instead of the one (point/comma) two two nine you intended.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Businesses want Abe to focus on economy, not military bills

Makes sense

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Personally, I wish Abe would keep his hands off both military buildup and the economy.

Recently there is a trend toward over-government.

Governments should get on quietly with their job and not impact our lives too much.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

What??? And lineup to promises instead of prioritizing pet projects than none of his constituents want??

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Governments should get on quietly with their job and not impact our lives too much.

That is the policy that lead to the 2008 economic disaster. It is simple minded and based in a delusion. People are often quite stupid and need to be told what to do for their own benefit unfortunately. Like wearing helmets. Business as well, hundreds go bankrupt everyday. Government of course causes harm, especially when it is run by those that hate government (the republican party), but when it is run well the nation booms. Look at Singapore. Government led massive success. Japan in the 50s and 60s the same. Government led massive success. China too. The USA under Obama is booming after the 2008 crisis.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Given this article, read it from an international macro economics perspective.

Business is "directly" related to military (safety and security) as experienced in Thailand, China, N Korea, Iran, and other countries.

"Profit" is "directly" related to military (safety and security) as it reflects "expenditure" to assure same.

This article indicates self-centered immediate profit oriented mentality of businesses.

China and Russia as well as the USA is fully "aware" of the relationship.

RESOURCES must be "protected" (physically) in-order for businesses to survive and to exist.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This goes to remind us that Japan is a civilian based economy and not a military-industrial state like the U.S. The irony is that after the war the U.S. rebuilt Japan as a civilian economy just as it was turning itself into a warfare based economy, or what Seymour Melman called "Pentagon capitalism."

It is quite natural that a civilian based economy would have fears of increased military involvements by Japan. War for a civilian based economy like Japan's is not good for business.

I too wish that Abe's economic agenda would go away; but I would rather that Abe mess around with the economy than get us into war.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Down with Muppet face, and his regime!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@zurconium

That is the policy that lead to the 2008 economic disaster.

Government policies that pushed home ownership down the throats of the population are what led to the 2008 disaster.

The USA under Obama is booming after the 2008 crisis.

Booming? Really? Explain why the labor force participation rate is at its lowest since the late 70's. Or why we have the greatest portion of the population on food stamps ( http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-12-07/there-has-never-been-greater-portion-america-living-food-stamps ). Not to mention flat wage growth and terrible employment prospects for young adults ( http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-05-28/what-happens-when-millennial-tries-get-job )

0 ( +4 / -4 )

The ongoing turmoil in global economy is understood to have been caused by many factors , falling oil prices in international market being one such factor. This Vedic astrology writer had , as early as last year on 2 June 2014, predicted that global economy is likely to have stressful time from November 2014 to about mid -2016. Keeping in view the varying degree of stress during the said predicted time, three divisions were highlighted as follows : (1). Global economy would likely to pass through a mild slowdown from November 2014 to about April 2015. (2). The stress may be intense during May 2015 to October 2015. It was said that : “ discernible concerns would surface. Definite rumbles of distress would be heard”. (3). The stress may likely be catastrophic during November 2015 to about mid- 2016. Briefly speaking, natural calamities , energy resources including oil and erroneous decisions of the rulers may be some of major causes. These predictions were made in article – Stressful times ahead for world economy in 2015 and 2016- published online at astrologyweekly.com. It may however, be observed here that astrological predictions made in advance are indicative of likely trends or environment and are not synonymous with determinism because an appropriate and sufficient strategy has a potential to either reduce the gravity of outcome or in some cases may even frustrate such impacts. That could be usefulness.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Abe knows what is good for Japan because he see the whole picture like a eagle from above thous who on the ground complaining see only tip of their nose a unknowingly contributing to atmosphere of mistrust towards government.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

The ongoing turmoil in global economy is understood to have been caused by many factors , falling oil prices in international market being one such factor. This Vedic astrology writer had , as early as last year on 2 June 2014, predicted that global economy is likely to have stressful time from November 2014 to about mid -2016. Keeping in view the varying degree of stress during the said predicted time, three divisions were highlighted as follows : (1). Global economy would likely to pass through a mild slowdown from November 2014 to about April 2015. (2). The stress may be intense during May 2015 to October 2015. It was said that : “ discernible concerns would surface. Definite rumbles of distress would be heard”. (3). The stress may likely be catastrophic during November 2015 to about mid- 2016. Briefly speaking, natural calamities , energy resources including oil and erroneous decisions of the rulers may be some of major causes. These predictions were made in article – Stressful times ahead for world economy in 2015 and 2016- published online at astrologyweekly.com. It may however, be observed here that astrological predictions made in advance are indicative of likely trends or environment and are not synonymous with determinism because an appropriate and sufficient strategy has a potential to either reduce the gravity of outcome or in some cases may even frustrate such impacts. That could be usefulness.

Did you actually write all that?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japan should no doubt end deflation , promote economic growth and try to reduce its debts but at the same time simultaneously pay serious attention to increase defense preparedness which it had neglected during the last 70 years . PM Abe is doing at present to get the defense legislation passed in Diet to come out of the unhealthy situation in which Japan is placed with regard to defense related issues due to its pacifist constitutional restrictions.Japanese public should fully support PM Abe's efforts at this juncture instead of showering criticism on him for his moves as the defense environment around Japan is likely to deteriorate in coming years.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Abe seems to be already cursed by war bills and can't think about economic measures.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The world need cheap products.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Let's hope they have more luck than they did in the 1930's/40's.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Good luck PM Abe..you need economy and also military bills too to pass..!! We don't trust China who dictate their South China Sea..!

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

The Businesses sector's message to Abe: Do NOT screwup the relationship with China to appease US. We will hold you responsible for our losses due to your reckless !

4 ( +4 / -0 )

For important business leaders, that's a pretty strong indictment of Abe's policies. I hope they can keep the pressure on but it looks like there is little to stop him.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Military business is not the only way to a country can prosper, can helps a little bit but is not everything. Japan could do other things like fallow the exaples of Silicon Valley, France Fusion Reactor, Alternatives Resource of energy, easier working visa and more. Thinking out of box is good thought! Japan use to be like that so what's going on? Are you meme replicator it's somewhat like the game of telephone, where a verbal message is passed around a circle and ends up different what says in the first message.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The businesses that are complaining: those who are not producing weapons or related components.

Just think about it, if our electronics keiretsu are getting their arse kicked by Koreans and Taiwanese in smartphones , you start finding new markets.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@Pukey2AUG. 22, 2015 - 07:10AM JST

This is all one big game and ego-trip to prove to grandpa that botchan can re-beautify this country.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

To dig ecacuation caves all over in Japanese mountains and hills to besutify?

BTW Abe is o-bocchama of Kishi who is one of his o-ji-i-sama.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

When Abe became a prime minister some years ago, he said the top priority for Japan was good economy that must get out of deflation, but now the top priority is war bills for easily starting war with other allies together. It seems that nobody want that way.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"the economy should take priority"

Eliminate the consumption tax and CUT SPENDING!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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