politics

Abe apologizes over Inada's resignation; Kishida to run defense ministry

26 Comments
By Linda Sieg and Elaine Lies

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26 Comments
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Kishida is becoming the Jared Kushner of Japanese politics! Soon he will take over the 2020 Olympics as well!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Another nail in the coffin Abe san.

It must be over soon. Low approval ratings, scandals, resignations.

Who next I wonder?Abe?

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Abe's appointment of Inada in the first place is highly negligent and I would like to hear more about that. Inada was a severe national security threat to the country and should be removed permanently from all public institutions

8 ( +8 / -0 )

I am no fan of Abe but I think his job and the LDP's grip on power is safe because the opposition parties are so weak. I hope I'm wrong.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I don't think there is any party out there that is worst than the LDP.

I don't buy that propaganda that the opposition is weak, It has been

repeated so many times by the media that so many people believe that there is no other

party apart from the LDP.

Seems to me people are too tolerant with the LDP and chastise the DP

for the slightest of issues.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

So, what experience exactly does Kishida have to run the Defense Ministry? And didn't he rotate from another position to Foreign Minister in the first place? Politics here is always said to be a game of musical chairs, but they are making even that an understatement. Kishida and Aso are both looking at the PM chair, which means even those who are out of the game of musical chairs are still walking around looking for the same seats. It is just... baffling, but TIJ, after all.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Ha! Ha! Look at the false expression of grief on his face in the photo. He's just playing it up to get some public confidence back.

@krustytheclown - I am no fan of Abe but I think his job and the LDP's grip on power is safe because the opposition parties are so weak. I hope I'm wrong.

Unfortunately, you are not wrong. There is no opposition to the LDP. This is partly due to voter apathy. Obviously, the majority of voters support the right-wing nationalistic stance of the LDP. The other 50% of voters who couldn't be bothered getting off their sofas to vote. This is a result of the education system and employment culture of just being 'yes men' (and women). They just accept the rule and get screwed over in the middle and lower classes, as it has always been in Japan. The opposition can't even keep seats in the lower house, better less get a majority in the upper house. You'd also notice there have been no campaigns to counter the voter apathy during Abe's rule. This is because they know they would lose out big time if their encouraged the majority of people to vote. They recently changed the law to allow 18-20's to vote, but less than 20% of them actually voted.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

"Crying for sympathy, crocodiles cry for the love of the crowd and three cheers from everyone..."

0 ( +2 / -2 )

LDP will be much steady with his resignation, why others around him have to do that? He is the cause of all those issues on the days of Diet, am I wrong?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Poor old Abe. The best thing he could do now is to resign himself, otherwise he'll be back visiting Yasukuni in an attempt to drum up support from right-wing nutters and that really won't do at all.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The Japanese are very different - can you imagine such a strong response to such apparently small ethics breaches here?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Endless scandals.

You're all criminals. Go to jail. Get out.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Hmmm. Abe showing his sad pouting face. Haven't seen that before. Still, this does not get any sympathy from me.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

It's alright, Abe has apologised. Business as usual then.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Wow. Just wow. Japanese politics is a black hole where nothing can escape.

Abe's popularity is worse than Trump's (which maybe says more about Americans), the leader of the main opposition party Renho resigns, there is no one, and I mean ZERO potential candidates on the horizon to inspire the people. Every single "rising star" is a third or fourth generation politician.

The horizon is bleak in the Land of the Rising Sun.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

What kind of joke is this? Kishida isn't qualified for any positions, except as Abe's rear. What a disasters of Japan foreign policy in these 5 years, country isn't like a country, neighbor isn't like a neighbor, Japanese aren't like Japanese. Japan wants to change for better, not for worse.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Pitiful. A 90 million people strong nation, can't find a good PM and a capable defense minister. LDP must rebel from within and deny Kishida.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Another failure from Abe!

Inada's pathetic right-wing leanings were blatantly obvious from the start.

And not being able to control her stupidity nor hide the facts means that she is finished as a politician (I hope!)

4 ( +4 / -0 )

kurisupisuToday  09:56 pm JST

And not being able to control her stupidity nor hide the facts means that she is finished as a politician (I hope!)

Gross incompetence isn't necessarily a career killer in Japan if you're a rabid conservative ultranationalist. Just ask Shinzo Abe.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Abe is just securing his grip around his foremost competitor to his party-leader post. Again, Abe's cabinet lacks individualism because everyone's too dependent upon Abe! Even Abe's presence is enough to make people kneel and obey:( Kishida should challenge Abe's different and controversial stances in order to run for the party-leader post.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

He should rather apologize to the Japanese for being involved in so many scandals and be a PM with no honor to step down by himself.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

A snap election in November and Abe will be pm for 4 more years.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It didn't work because he delegated authority. Abe does not know how to. behave tyrant yet, Btw, Japanese are not askng apology. However, about all foreigners lobe to. be apologized now.So maybe he will. tomorrow.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Yep. Abe is completely useless. And one scandal after another.

Japan needs someone like Donald Trump. Decisive leadership. No hint of scandal. No hint of coverups.

Make Japan Great Again!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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