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Do you think the cronyism scandal involving Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his wife Akie and Finance Minister Taro Aso will affect Japan's standing overseas? Do you think people overseas even know or care about it?

23 Comments

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23 Comments
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Since I do, they do. And I will make sure more will.

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

I care because I live here. I don't think folks back home care any more that what Japanese folk care about what's going on where I come from.

They see it as having no effect on their lives. Not true, but fair enough I suppose.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Nobody knows, nobody cares. Cronyism/bid-rigging/data falsification are evidently deeply-entrenched in Japanese culture. It's not going to change in the future.

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

No one overseas remotely cares.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

I think to most people it is just another politician with their tricks.

However with Aso and Abe not taking the blaming especially with the discovery of document alteration and ignoring the incident will have its implications.

Future top level leaders or company executives might not take blame anymore if they quote Abe and Aso as example.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm against Abe completely, but to be honest even I don't care much about this scandal. It's too weak and flimsy and I actually think it's doing the opposition a disservice

6 ( +7 / -1 )

It’s not the cronysim scandal, it’s the Abe-Moritomo scandal - just to put things right.

However, most people outside of a few Japan nerds know who the prime minister is, let alone care about his grafting, bribe-taking, and business-as-usual not taking responsibility activities. I doubt if the so-called president of the US knows who the prime minister of Japan is.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Those of us here and abroad who are interested in current affairs care. I know, because I've had people asking me about the scandals and what it means for Abe.

Those who have no interest in what happens outside of their countries probably don't give a darn.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

People abroad know and many do care.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Absolutely. The entire world knows about the Mr and Mrs and Aso's scandal and it is not too far to guess that Japan's respect has diminished. More importantly, governments around the world know that Japanese leadership is now in a weakened state.

What has been under reported or not reported at all is the many Japanese people are mad as heck at the Abe regime and are demonstrating in the streets.

It is time for Abe to have another case indigestion and resign.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Do you think the cronyism scandal involving Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his wife Akie and Finance Minister Taro Aso will affect Japan's standing overseas? Do you think people overseas even know or care about it?

Both these questions can only be answered once one has analyzed the international news reaction. BBC, Sky News, CNN, FOX, Al Jazeera, RT, whatever..

People who are not connected to Japan will only hear about this if the international news agencies think it is a big enough story. Pure and simple.

I hope they do. Because its time for Japan to realize that the electorate needs to do something about the corruption that has been plaguing this country. Name and shame is the only way for things to change

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I don’t think most people really care in Japan, never mind abroad. Japanese politics only becomes even mildly interesting when there is a scandal.

The last time my friends in the UK and US even mentioned Japanese politics was when a local politician had hysterics on TV after being nicked for fiddling expenses.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Those of us here and abroad who are interested in current affairs care. I know, because I've had people asking me about the scandals and what it means for Abe.

Exactly.

The people that matter, care. With that, you can assume that 'the world knows' of Abe's (and Japanese politics') flailing reputation. Just as Berlusconi gave Italian politics a bad image, for example. People who are blissfully unaware live in their bubble regardless of what's happening in the world - until it's almost at their front door...

2 ( +2 / -0 )

In todays world politics, this sort of behaviour is rewarded. If this scandal takes down Abe and Aso they will not loss any entitlements. This sort of behaviour You will see them on the boards of multi- National Companies or some sort of high paying government position.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

People abroad might know and care a bit less if Abe hadn't spent so much time strutting about the world stage talking himself up. It looks like that might have backfired a bit.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Overseas.... only a blip on the tv screen for most, few with actual ties WILL care!

I will tell who in Japan care the most, the politicians etc who will NOT be getting their brown envelopes they were expecting while cutting this deal!!

And anyone who thinks this type of corruption is rare is simply not paying attention or willfully ignoring, this type of thing has been going on non-stop for MANY decades & very much the norm sadly

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Dont know and don’t care probably. Most Japanese feel it is a necessary part of a politician’s job to falsify data and to lie.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

No it's won't affect Japan's image as a land of cronyism scandals and industrial fraud

1 ( +1 / -0 )

geez autocorrect -- it not it's

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@ Kabukilover

The 'entire world'. Where do you base your 'knowledge' on?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Always amusing to read expat comments 'analysing' cronyism and fraud in a host country as if they all came from the Holy Land. The number of countries with low figures of cronyism and industrial fraud can be counted on 2 hands :)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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