Abe says decision to resign before accomplishing his goals 'gut-wrenching'

JJ JetplaneAug. 29  02:06 pm JST

It's hard to not be the best or worst when you have been the only person during that span.

My point exactly.

@Simon Foston

He's definitely the best PM Japan's had in the five or so years

By that sentiment. Trump was the best US president the US had in the past 3 years. Also, Muammar Gaddafi was the best Libyan ruler from the 1970's to 2011.

It's hard to not be the best or worst when you have been the only person during that span.

As I have said before, I wish the man a speedy recovery and all the best, but in all honesty I think his condition is very, very serious because if it weren't he wouldn't step down so quickly and abruptly and shockingly, so I think whatever it is, it's bad. I feel sincerely bad for the guy.

"I decided I should not stay on as prime minister when I'm no longer capable of living up to the people's expectations with confidence,"

You never had our confidence, nor did we ever think you'd live up to our expectations, nor did we ever think you'd accomplish your goals aside from giving corporations tax cuts and sucking up to Donald Trump. You should have stayed quit when you did it the first time around due to illness, but you just HAD to try and change the Constitution.

The anti-comments of the non-Japanese here are so ridiculous. unbelievable.

Well that was certainly unexpected. I didn’t even know that he had that condition. Well, at least we don’t have to worry about him for too much longer. And after Abe does officially step down, we’ll see what the new Prime Minister is like.

Nothing wrong here. He worked hard for years. Let the man enjoy his retired life.

@kittygeorge if he is the greatest PM in the history of Japan I will eat my hat!!

He doubled Nikkei Stock Price Index and cut unemployment ratio by half.

Moreover, he incorporated Security laws which strengthened the alliance with the US but was unfavorable for China and Korea.

He is the greatest PM in Japan's history.

“Without a clear consensus on who should succeed Abe, LDP lawmakers could elect Aso as a temporary leader if Abe resigns”

IF Abe resigns? Hasn’t he already resigned!

Amazed that someone aged 39 is too young. There is hope for me. I no longer feel old.

Bad bowel will do it all the time

Imagine being labeled an ultra-nationalist because you want your nation's military to be on the same footing as the other 192 nations of the world.

The fact that this dynastic oyaji is leaving PM post may be a slight relief for Japan

PM Abe was generally respected by many of my colleagues.

Most people are probably worrying, anxious or nervous about the problems his replacement might make.

Simon Foston Today 09:27 pm JST

Where have you got the idea that he has cancer?

Well, partly because of the unpleasant experience I had in a similar case. A chronic condition that I will suffer from for life.

An ulcer that caused me a cancerous tumor, forcing a surgical intervention in 2008. Luckily it did not metastasize. But as a result I have to perform oncological tests every year and a half. To check that it does not play back. The risk is very high.

I am quite familiar with the subject. And what has given me the clue about it, is in the very publication of the news.

He is now on a new treatment that requires IV injections for the next year, he said.

That's what I've been worried about. An intravenous injection means that there is more than just an inflamed ulcer. But we will only know that with future news. When Abe decides, he will reveal the extent of his illness to us.

All we can do is wish you a speedy recovery.

Please. Don't write down things I haven't said. The highlighted in bold does not belong to my previous comment.

I put two quotes in, one from you and one from David Wilson. You both made assertions that are completely unsubstantiated. If you have any evidence to back up your assertion that Abe has "cancer", based on your quote:

The truth is that cancer is a terrible case. I just hope the doctors can do something and that it's not too late to treat him.

Please reference the source. Same goes for the other poster claiming PM Abe is allegedly "dying".

Lets stick to known facts.

Shinzo Abe has once again demonstrated his level of commitment to the people of Japan!

Fighto! Today 09:14 pm JST

I hope you can recover from this serious illness. The truth is that cancer is a terrible case.

The man is sick and dying

Please. Don't write down things I haven't said. The highlighted in bold does not belong to my previous comment.

SilvafanToday  10:16 pm JST

Yeah, I recently read that Shinzo is really quitting, so he won't get prosecuted.

It could also be that when the next election comes around the LDP will lose enough seats that they want someone to blame even if they hold onto power, and Abe will be forced out in disgrace. I suspect he prefers going out this way to the alternatives.

Just wondering how many of the haters have the right to vote? Show of hands? And I’m guessing from seeing one thread after the next, that the way to get likes is to post something negative towards the government and Japan. Broken record moment... if you don’t like it... you don’t have to stay.

I didn’t agree with everything he said or did, but the man just resigned today and the reports from different media outlets have painted differing stories on how Japan fared during his tenure.

For those of us who have been here for a while, remember that era of changing one prime minister after the next? Hope it doesn’t come back.

Abe wasn’t the devil some people here seem to be hellbent on painting him as. Anyone have any suggestions of better candidates to take over?

He lead Japan during a period of a rising China, North Korean missiles threats, Brexit, and the Trumpster, and of course Covid. It was quite the time to be prime minister of Japan. Hope he gets well.

As PM of the world's third largest economy for 8 years, if you can't accomplish your goals, while controlling, for the most part, both houses of the diet, YOU are the problem!

Sad part about all of it, is that you never once thought to try something different, and relied on methods that were out of date by literally decades, before you even started!

One other thing, you are lying here about one thing, about not accomplishing your goals, you made your business cronies a ton of cash, and I am sure they will give you a great send off!.

For people see me here a lot, I am frequently a fierce critic of Shinzo Abe. However, I only criticize him on his intentions rather than his abilities or personalities. Among LDP cronies, Shinzo Abe has the biggest brain above bureaucratic idiots. Taro Aso is an idiot, Shigeru Ishiba is a delusional fascist, Yoshihide Suga is a passive fool, Shinjirō Koizumi is a naive youngster, Katsunobu Kato/Toshimitsu Motegi/Tomomi Inada are non-factors with ultranationalist agenda. Only Taro Kono and Fumio Kishida have the brains on par with Shinzo Abe, except it is likely they will not get anything done soon.

The problem with Japan is the bureaucracy entrenched at every part of the country. Shinzo Abe may have consolidated most powers in the central government but he still can't persuade the regional governments and other bureaucrats on his side. Like Koizumi, Abe's structural reforms get struck down by these incompetent, conservative bureaucrats at every level. Just look at Tokyo, Abe has to freaking compromise with Koike, while Xi Jinping should have no issue of getting Shanghai in line. Japan's bureaucracy is quite twisted and inefficient! The Fukushima crisis to the recent natural disasters across Japan are the prime examples where bureaucrats do not cooperate with each other. Yakuzas response faster than the freaking government during the times of crises is the result of bureaucratic failures across Japan.

Abe or not, Japan is doomed in the long run if the bureaucratic system does not get a kick in the face.

One of his greatest failures has been the steady impoverishment of the Japanese people-it must be particularly gut-wrenching’

to see this generation poorer than the last...

This result is caused by many years of neoliberalism before and after the assets bubble collapse in 1990s. The LDP cronies want this result all along because the Reganites in the USA commanded their Japanese puppets to do so.

Apparently, the American masters have been successful at turning Japan into an another neoliberal hellscape. Today, Japan is increasingly becoming like California or Southern USA with poor families and homeless people.

It's pretty disturbing reading comments on other websites outside Japan, like Youtube, and tabloid news sites, with people saying what an honourable thing to do, such a good leader, blah blah blah. If only they lived in Japan, they'd know what he's really like. I don't think the ordinary person outside Japan has any idea just what sort of scandals this useless lame duck is.

I thought his goals were raising taxes and amending the constitution to sending the self defense forces overseas to war were his goals. He did both (against the will of the people) what a loser bye felicia

I am sad to see him go and I do wish him a speedy recovery.

Yeah, I recently read that Shinzo is really quitting, so he won't get prosecuted. Typical cowardly behavior or he is pulling a Saikawa!

Japan’s Longest-Serving PM, Shinzo Abe, Quits in Bid to ‘Escape’ Potential Prosecution

https://www.thedailybeast.com/japans-longest-serving-pm-shinzo-abe-quits-in-bid-to-escape-potential-prosecution

At a press conference, he cited his painful stomach condition ulcerative colitis as the reason for stepping down, but he leaves at a time when his ratings are plummeting, and he is under at least one criminal investigation, with the public clamoring for the reopening of other cases.

That sounds like stress and guilt! Are the rats jumping ship?

"bolstering Japan’s defense role and capability and its security alliance with the U.S. He also stepped up patriotic education at schools and raised Japan’s international profile."

Billions spent in US bases and problems still there (Futenma etc.), hiding real facts of history from school manuals, deleting excuses from previous primer minister and getting bad relationships with closed countries excepting USA (golf is not so hard isn't it?), pushing olympic game for tokyo meanwhile hundred of thousand people have starving in Tohoku, women still have low position in the society, child poverty strongly raised (https://www.tuj.ac.jp/icas/event/invisible-child-poverty-in-japan/), hoikuen missing so much, more slave through the "internship" visa, raising VAT without improving pensions and social issues....and of course, trillions of debts!

In fact, Dentsu and other big companies are the only ones to be happy as well as extreme right people expressing their anger for Chinese etc...without getting any trouble by authorities.

Only good thing, boosting tourism. What a success in 8 years....

dougthehead13Today  08:51 pm JST

I hope you can recover from this serious illness. The truth is that cancer is a terrible case. 

??????

Where have you got the idea that he has cancer?

I hope you can recover from this serious illness. The truth is that cancer is a terrible case.

The man is sick and dying

Lets not bury him yet. There is no indication that PM Abe is "dying" or has "cancer". He has a chronic illness, and leading Japan with 2 hours sleep each night for 8 years takes its toll eventually on a 65 year old. A break will do him good.

Abe will soon be forgotten, but there are even worse LDP geezers, wannabe PMs jockeying for power backstage. I pray it won't be that Aso!?

Derek Glebe, the man is sick and dying and is a lot more country and people orientated than those running a lot of other countries.

Unlike many other countries Japan is and has been a very financial and growth productive country and has been for many years, ( This year aside due to Coronavirus)

My Japanese friends told me his job as Prime Minister was truly gut-wrenching. That tells you right there that the citizens stopped believing in him and he had no other choice but to make an excuse to bow out.

I hope you can recover from this serious illness. The truth is that cancer is a terrible case. I just hope the doctors can do something and that it's not too late to treat him.

Yes, Aso Sensei will be a "safe pair of hands" as acting PM

Lol.

You do come out with some beauties. The description of Abe as ‘a street fighter from Yamaguchi’ is still your best though.

Don’t you think ‘Aso-sensei’ should have another crack at it. He was so good last time round...

Yes, Aso Sensei will be a "safe pair of hands" as acting PM, until the LDP President is selected. He knows what the top job is all about. But I believe Minister Kono could be the long term option at PM. Serving as Defense Minister, and previously as Minister of Foreign Affairs, right now in the most dangerous time for Japan in 75 years, Kono has stood up for Japan strongly.

He says Japan sick need stronger leader..

VERY SORRY . health MOST important.

About time.

Need some fresh blood in there.

Abe created a MESS.

As PM he was a total failure.

Let's hope that the next guy along is not yet another FAKE.

Wishing a full recovery to Mr Abe. Sounds like a terrible disease. I believe Minister Kono will have the numbers to get the top job. We will know in a few days.

I remember you posted ‘Abe-san’ and ‘Aso-sensei’ were ‘the envy of the world’.

Don’t you think ‘Aso-sensei’ should have another crack at it. He was so good last time round...

Yes, Abe san is the only person I have observed in years who had any kind of vision and ability to influence. I think all Japanese politicians are nationalist and some are racist, so I dont disqualify him for any of those leanings; it comes with the territory, but the predecessors were useless. Kan and Hatoyama were in a league of their own, similar to Nancy Pelosi and other Dem loons. Then it swings to the other end of the spectrum, nutter nationalist that just spew feel good mess but no action. Abe san seemed different.

Hard to miss that pun...

Well I can't say I am sorry to see him go, but I won't expect anything better from his replacement.

BanditToday  07:34 pm JST

No matter what Japan-haters may claim, Mr. Abe was the best PM in living memory who was widely respected by ordinary Japanese for the most part of his deservely long tenure.

He's definitely the best PM Japan's had in the five or so years.

I think many world leaders have taken care of a country with Health issues. I suspect this could be something much bigger.

Agreed. Ive seen older Japanese men who were ill, take on that color, a tallow kind of complexion. Dude looks quite ill.

Also, in this land where saving face is paramount, I dont think he would of quit if it was just a manageable disease. I have no first hand knowledge, just my suspect.

He was also unable to achieve his goal of settling several unfinished wartime legacies, including normalizing ties with North Korea, settling island disputes with neighbors and signing a peace treaty with Russia formally ending their hostilities in World War II.

Just a couple of failures among many.

One of his greatest failures has been the steady impoverishment of the Japanese people-it must be particularly gut-wrenching’

to see this generation poorer than the last...

Abe isn't a "finisher" ... he quits before he fails ... his Abenomics will prove a disaster for Japan. He will do like he did last time ... quit, let someone else clean it up, then reappear like, "look, I'm cured now ... can I have my job back?" ... he's a quitter who did little for the people, and didn't want to be the one holding the reins when all the effects of his policies + corona become plain to see

Ulcerative colitis or not, Japan deserves a new PM. Abe has spent all his political capital, there's none left. He needs to step down and resign from the Diet so he can have a good rest.

No matter what Japan-haters may claim, Mr. Abe was the best PM in living memory who was widely respected by ordinary Japanese for the most part of his deservely long tenure. He was not perfect, but Japan was lucky to have him as the PM during the turbulent period after the GFC.

He told reporters that it was “gut wrenching” to leave so many of his goals unfinished.

"so many" needs to be changed to "all".

Facts:

1 - Personal taxation has increased

2 - Corporate taxation has decreased

3 - National debt has dramatically increased

Excluding big businesses (wink, wink) Has the welfare and daily living standards for the nation and future generations improved under Abe?

Wishing a full recovery to Mr Abe. Sounds like a terrible disease. I believe Minister Kono will have the numbers to get the top job. We will know in a few days.

will he become another shadowy yami-shogun 闇将軍 like some other previous leaders ? the backroom power he wields is still enormous.

Wish him a speedy recovery. He didn't have a grip on the job and overly relied on bureaucrats who eventually exposed him and was made a mockery of with the Abenomask. Well don't expect any changes with whoever is elected as Abe's successor.

he intends to step down 

Yeah and we don't want to see his face ever again. What a joke this guy was.

The end of Abe's scandal-laden first stint as prime minister...

He picked up where he left off for his second stint as prime minister. Abe as well as numerous of his cronies were magnets for scandals. Abe personally got away lightly a few times, and should’ve been indicted at least once for shockingly corrupt behaviour.

As the head of the party that is basically guaranteed of being in power, it’s fair to say that Abe failed miserably in achieving anything notable. ‘Abenomics’ has been an embarrassment, and his goal of changing the constitution - which was his promise to complete what his grandfather couldn’t - speaks volumes of the man. He put that personal, familial ‘goal’ ahead of what was in the best interests of the country. And he failed to do that too.

I don’t wish him I’ll health, and hope he recovers - but by god its good he is going. He should’ve been removed from office for some of his corrupt actions before now. Let’s hope that this opportunity for meaningful change, is grasped with both hands.

I don’t know a lot about him, but Taro Kono would be an interesting choice - if only for the nations youngsters to see their prime minister speaking fluent English during international meetings and press conferences.

I do have a feeling he will be back in a couple of years, however.

See ya later alligator. Scary thought...who's the next wrecking ball?

All I can say is thank God he didn't accomplish his goals to a greater degree. Consumer prices have soared (as he planned); taxes are up with no improvement in the finances of the welfare programs he claimed they hikes were in support of; international tensions are worse (as he stoked); fortunately Article 9 is intact.

I'm looking forward to another era of do-little PMs who stay out of the public's business and let people get on with their lives.

He retired as PM not as a sitting politician I believe. So he will still be given copious amounts of tax payer money. Even if he completely retired he would still be getting a lot of our money. Love the squirm when asked about his Legacy, just could not think of anything worth 7years and 8months of being on the job, well nothing legal at least.

Hope you can enjoy your retirement.

Walk away and focus on your heath and first lady of Japan wife Akie.....Nothing else matters.

Shinzo Abe shall return!

All the best Abe-san. Get well soon.

Abe says decision to resign before accomplishing his goals 'gut-wrenching'

As PM of the world's third largest economy for 8 years, if you can't accomplish your goals, while controlling, for the most part, both houses of the diet, YOU are the problem!

Sad part about all of it, is that you never once thought to try something different, and relied on methods that were out of date by literally decades, before you even started!

One other thing, you are lying here about one thing, about not accomplishing your goals, you made your business cronies a ton of cash, and I am sure they will give you a great send off!.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe retired because continuing chronic health problem have resurfaced.

So where does that leave J economy and business?

This AP journalistic, personal attack is to demonstrate/provoke a negative response.

The comparison to that wretched ultra-nationalist Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike is evidence enough.

Interesting to see in the years to come whether Japan can manage political stability and leadership rather than the revolving door of the past.

The world, especially in Japan’s neighbourhood is a much less safe place than in decades past, which requires greater leadership and political stability.

Leaving now like he left first time.

Still, no doubt he and his friends got their nests well feathered with their slice of the 47 BILLION they stung us for the Abenomasks. A much more comfortable retirement awaits him than for most of the people who have to pay for his failed policies.

Abe says decision to resign before accomplishing his goals 'gut-wrenching'

I'm pretty sure "attempting to" should be added to that title.

Anyway, your run is now over. Enjoy retirement and get better.

A GREAT FRIEND OF INDIA, NOTABLY OF PM MODI who should find Japanese PM Shinzo Abe’s absence as leader of Japan a vacuum in international politics! Wishing him Godspeed recovery from his health issues and may he lead a healthy retired life! He will always be welcome in India as a great leader!

Whole of India got the shocking news of PM Abe resignation with unbelief .People of India were expecting to visit India next month . PM Abe should be given the best of medical treatment available so that he could continue for more years to lead the affairs of JAPAN. He must reconsider his decision of resigning as PM of Japan as he is the most experienced and able leader that Japanese have in the present circumstances when the world is witnessing so explosive situation in the South China Sea which can trigger world war at any time.

I thought he did a good job in foreign affairs, poorly in the economy and got caught up in too many scandals. I don't really fault him too much on the coronavirus.

One thing I find interesting about press conferences by political leaders in Japan is that they always have a sign language interpreter. Do other countries' leaders do that? I don't think I've ever seen Trump use one.

I think many world leaders have taken care of a country with Health issues. I suspect this could be something much bigger.

"Gut-wrenching"? Pun intended because of his illness?