If at first you don't succeed...

This guy wasn't even the first choice for leader of the party. He'll be torn down shortly after the posters are.

Just replay video clips of Abe's resignation announcement five years ago, he may rethink and quit politics altogether.

This slogan is a copy of US GOP campaign-"We take our country back!!" Where did it go?

This guy will take you backward to nationalism, not FORWARD.

If at first you don't succeed...

Please don't try anymore...

The catch phrase

"If at first you don't succeed... "

was found more than 15 years ago in the computer game Lemmings (!)

This slogan is a copy of US GOP campaign-"We take our country back!!" Where did it go?

BACK to the 18th century!!

If at first you don't succeed, try something else where you'll do less harm.

I've never, ever seen a nation that advertises failure so well.

This guy has as much charisma as a turd in a thermos! Most of the locals I have spoken are preferring him over Noda. When I asked them why the answer was similarly to do with TEPCO and the meltdown, eventhough his handling of TEPCO was pro-actice the people are still blaming him for the meltdowns. It just shows that 'Naoki Average' has no bloody idea what-so-ever about the politics of his own country. It is probably best not to have mandatory voting in Japan.

Seriously.... I just can't believe this. "Vote for me because I quit 5 years ago and will get back to that!" usually doesn't fly in civilized nations.

Do not urinate on my poster!

I've never, ever seen a nation that advertises failure so well.

"hajiganai" pops into mind, but I guess that only counts when the individual, or in this case the party, is talking about someone else.

Its sad that this is what politics have come to here. Thinking about going back to a spoiled brat with tummy issues who made a mess the first go at it. Wake up Japan!

Abe was born with a political silver spoon in his mouth. All he or his family know is politics. Japan needs a leader that is connected to the people.

Abe was born into a political family of significance. His grandfather, Kan Abe, and father, Shintaro Abe, were both politicians. Abe's mother, Yoko Kishi,[8] is the daughter of Nobusuke Kishi, prime minister of Japan from 1957 to 1960. Kishi had been a member of the Tōjō Cabinet during the Second World War. Since GHQ's policy changed and became more anti-communist, Kishi was released from Sugamo Prison, and later established the Japan Democratic Party. In 1950 Shigeru Yoshida's Liberal Party and Kishi's Democratic Party merged as an anti-leftist coalition and became the Liberal Democratic Party of today.

Good Bad smithinjapanNOV. 17, 2012 - 10:05AM JST Seriously.... I just can't believe this. "Vote for me because I quit 5 years ago and will get back to that!" usually doesn't fly in civilized nations.

He is suffering from ulcerative Colitis. Only until late 2009 when Japan approved the prescription Asacol that an estimated 100K including Abe, are now able to mitigate the symptoms. If that doesn't fly with the so-called civilizations, perhaps they should remain uncivilized.

Yubari: "Abe was born with a political silver spoon in his mouth. All he or his family know is politics."

Really? I'd say he doesn't seem to know anything about politics at all.

Pretty much ALL of them were born with silver spoons in their mouths which explains why this country is in the mess it is in. The gits from years ago messed it up for those of us living here now. The whole system needs to be re-hauled and the public need to demand this. But they won't. Bury there heads and hope someone fixes it all. Not going to happen.

nigelboyNov. 17, 2012 - 10:56AM JST

He is suffering from ulcerative Colitis. Only until late 2009 when Japan approved the prescription Asacol that an estimated 100K including Abe, are now able to mitigate the symptoms. If that doesn't fly with the so-called civilizations, perhaps they should remain uncivilized.

I and millions have suffered from ulcerative Colitis and haven't ran away from our jobs to a hospital bed. The guys a total wimp.

He looks really clever. He's got that unmistakable stamp of genius and deep intellectual curiosity on his visage. Thank god Japan is continuing its unswerving policy elevating the best and brightest to positions of power. This guy looks like he travelled the world to seek out the best minds and practices before returning to Japan to share them with a society hungry for knowledge. Just have a look at the picture at the top of the article. You can't help but agree.

And how about that slogan? Nihon wo tori modosu (Bring Japan Back). That's a great idea. Let's not change anything. Let's just try to recreate an earlier Japan by a Herculean act of will. Let's all just try to be more JAPANESE! That's the problem, after all, people in Japan just aren't Japanese enough. They've forgotten what it means to be Japanese. This is a great slogan for a guy who was already prime minister and almost single-handedly remade Japan with far reaching reforms to every aspect of the society. You could hardly recognize the place when he was done.

My money is on Japan! How can they go wrong by putting a guy like this in as prime minister again?

Don't let anyone say that Japan is incapable of radical change! Not hardly! Some have even said he'll wear a different necktie when he gets sworn in.

Quick! Fast! Invest in Japan! Move to Japan!

Frank RizzoNov. 17, 2012 - 12:46PM JST

Frank, I went back and read all your posts. If I am not mistaken, you are playing a devils advocate here like lawyers, right? I hope so.

I don't like Abe, I don't like the LDP, I'm generally a far-left-leaning pacifist liberal, but I also don't see anything wrong with the general message that maybe Japan should actually stickup for itself for a change. It needs to do so, though, not through nationalistic sloganeering and antagonism, but through a reexamination of its own values, and by doing a better job of conveying its positive strengths to the outside world and becoming a positive force in the region. Unfortunately, neither major party can put forward anyone with the originality and strength of vision to accomplish that...

Abe will not dance to Obama's piping for TPP and will not concede to China's increasingly hardline stance over Senkaku either. Also he may dance to another tune athwart MOF over the scheduled sales tax hike. And will gush money as a countermeasure for America's unlimited QE. All the more reasons he is hated. But perhaps he is well aware that your enemy is not necessarily your friend's enemy.

Frank,

That was hilarious, too funny

The poster reads: “We’ll get back Japan.”

Meaning their aim is to have power again, nothing more. Even in their campaign slogans, the LDP are totally self-centred. I cannot believe that anyone would vote for them, even given the mostly dismal alternatives.

nigelboy: "He is suffering from ulcerative Colitis. Only until late 2009 when Japan approved the prescription Asacol that an estimated 100K including Abe, are now able to mitigate the symptoms. If that doesn't fly with the so-called civilizations, perhaps they should remain uncivilized."

He SAYS he quit for health reasons, but that is not the full story. He also quit because of statements he had made that were not only unpopulary, but proven wrong and for which he had to apologize. In any case, the man's an ultra-nationalist and still has the same tummy problems and attitudes, so he'll quit again within two years of being PM. The worst part is hat Japan will never learn the lesson.

The worst part is hat Japan will never learn the lesson.

"Japan," meaning the general public, supported Mr. Ishiba, not Abe. But yes, J-politicians may never learn. At least Mr. Noda seems like a straight shooter.

The poster reads something like "We'll bring back the good old Japan". It does have a good ring to it...

bicultural: "At least Mr. Noda seems like a straight shooter."

As ineffectual as Noda has been, he deserves points for not simply quitting when the going got rough, like his five....yes FIVE predecessors did. When a person in politics is criticized for wanting to stay on and achieve his or her goals and not simply leave at the first sign of tummy-rumbling, you know there's a serious problem. Abe, in this picture, already looks exhausted and ready to quit, and he will. Before that, though, I'm sure he'll find a few ways to screw up this nation beyond repair.