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© The Associated Press/ Thomson ReutersLDP's Abe pledges to revitalize Japan, strengthen military
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Serrano
But the LDP does not have a good track record.
Alan
The best thing politicians can do for the economy is to leave it alone. The problems they promise to fix are generally the result of their own meddling.
some14some
meaning? i want to take back premiership (?)
sfjp330
J-goverments real challenge is the continue population decline and the shift in the population breakdown. No matter how much employment increases, if the number of people being sustained by each employed person keeps going up, Japan's economy will not improve. And, if everybody in Japan want to keep the current pension and welfare benefit systems, the burden on the current working generation will become that much heavier. What Japan needs to do is to make the immigration from neighboring countries easier for young College and University graduates.
papigiulio
We DONT need to strengthen our military. Why dont you use that money to help out in tohoku instead. Learn priorities
Juan Rodriguez
Lets give Abe-san the benefit of the doubt and hope for the best ;')
smithinjapan
Let the race of outrageous promises and blatant lies begin!
FightingViking
What was that expression again ? If the LDP wins, it'll be like "jumping out of the fry-pan into the fire..." (a "nuclear" fire...)
flowers
Sfjp330, I agree with you but the problem is japan holds its pride up high. It doesn’t want more mixed races unlike western countries which are more open so the population control can be more easily resolved.
borscht
He might promise these things now but chances are he will do what most prime ministers do: not much for the country, a lot for themselves. Plus, he'll probably only be in office a year. How much can he screw up in a year?
Seiryuu_Dan
if LDP is re-elected as the ruling party, we'll see if he can keep his promise.
globalwatcher
It is un attainable This is exactly what Japan DOES NOT need at this moment. He will make your savings to a worthless paper and leading Japan into financial mess beyond repair. Only groups benefit from this are big business-Auto industry, exporting industry at your expense. As I posted below, a silver lining for Japan's success depends on drastic structural change in economy, not UNLIMITED money supply for construction bond. Unlimited money supply for construction bond sounds good, right? But basically it is making your yen to become a worthless paper. This guy has no moral compass as a leader. If he wants to be a good leader, then he needs to do what is a best interest for everyone in Japan, not just for selective groups.
Mr. Shirakawa also cautioned that maintaining easy monetary policy "for an extended period" will likely yield unwelcome unintended consequences.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704444304575628403102379326.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/08/us-imf-japan-lipsky-idUSTRE75723B20110608
Noda is just doing great with US after Hatoyama and Kan removed. What Abe is not telling you is this. He is trying to abolish the Article 9th of Japanese Constitution. You may be called for mandatory military service.
Upgrayedd
borschtNov. 22, 2012 - 08:52AM JST
He might promise these things now but chances are he will do what most prime ministers do: not much for the country, a lot for themselves. Plus, he'll probably only be in office a year. How much can he screw up in a year?
Can't be any worse than the last time he was prime minister.
Jimizo
@sfjp This election will likely see a shift to the right. There is no way we are going to see a softening of Japanese policy towards immigration no matter how much economic sense it makes. We'll get the usual platitudes ( see above ),factionalism and the next leader out on his backside within a year or so.
sfjp330
jimizo, your right. Japanese people would rather starve then change their immigration policy.
alliswellinjapan
Abe needs to make his position much clearer on TPP. Noda should fulfill his final duty by aggressively cutting into this topic during the debate now that his own party's pro-TPP position is clearer than ever. TPP is undoubtedly one of the most essential topics going forward and LDP is apparently far from achieving internal consensus on this. Abe needs to prove he is not unfaithfully covering up the party's actual anti-TPP position until the election is over and that he has the will and capability to eventually lead his entire party collectively arrive at the right decision on this in the best interest of the entire nation.
Upgrayedd
Abe coming out for TPP now would be like Mitt Romney coming out for gay marriage on November 1st.
TPP is off the table until after the election.
Schopenhauer
We are so much tired of hearing grim pictures of Japan under DPJ socialistic government which focuses too much on saving the weak. Now let "happy go lucky" LDP and Abe handle Japan. Psycological aspect matters a lot.
Mirai Hayashi
Why should we? He had his chance and failed in disgrace. He was in office less than a year; what makes Japan think he's going to d anything different? Its the same LDP with the same people and the same failed ideas and policies.
Japan need to get away from the LDP and DPJ, and look into voting in an alternative party with fresh new ideas to get this country going again.
minello7
“This is our campaign pledge and we only listed things we can achieve,”but its only empty rhetoric,he hasn't explained properly how he is going to achieve this.Typical politicians wording, hopes the voters fall for it. Thanks "globalwatcher" for your links. If only the Japanese media would give this sort of information to its citizens, would help them see through the shallow wording these politicians use.
Yubaru
The title here is more than likely translated incorrectly. Why you ask? Japan does not have a military, it has a self proclaimed self defense force. Ok so the point was to get people's attention.....you got mine.
Now then, this is another political ploy by Abe and his policy making cronies at the LDP to get the votes of the conservative (a HUGE voting bloc here) elderly folks that think Japan is (has) lost it's so-called rightful place in the world.
Sad part is that Japan can not afford to build up the SDF anymore than a set percentage of the GDP. It's a relatively low 3% to 5%, I don't recall the number exactly off the top of my head. To go any higher would be against the constitution and I am quite sure his opponents are quite aware of this too.
This is just more political (garbage) rhetoric!
Simon Foston
LDP policies are all about catering to sectors of the economy, e.g. agriculture and constuction, which are now almost totally dependent on government hand-outs in order to survive in their current form. That's the way the LDP like it, because voters and campaign donors who are addicted to government largesse are more likely to vote for them. That's just a different name for saving the weak.
alliswellinjapan
Upgrayedd: DPJ is even kicking out Hatoyama out to make their stance on TPP crystal clear. Hashimoto has converted Ishihara seeking to make their collective pro-TPP stance clearer. This is evidently going to be one of Abe's toughest political challenges once he takes over and the voters would need to have a clearer idea of where he is heading on this before they place their vote, especially when we already know he is certain to take over.
Spanki
blah blah blah
2020hindsights
Totally agree. He promises to revitalize the economy and the best way to do this at the moment is to join the TPP. The LDP won't because they have to pander to the rice farmers.
Japan's electorate is a corrupt mess where low population countryside prefectures have the same say as high population urban areas. This is totally unfair. And that is why the supreme court ruled the last election unconstitutional and invalid. Did anybody do anything about it? Hell no. Japan isn't a democracy friends.
nath
Marcelito
Point is they want prices to go up - called inflation.
This clown will be just as ineffective next time as he was last time. Unfortunately the kindergarten that is Nagatacho will not allow any constructive action.
sidesmile
Caption the accompanying photo..."So dont forget to cast your vote, folks. And while youre at it pick up my new book..its an intriguing tale full of lies, deceit and empty promises with plenty of zombies for the younger generation...n shi$."
Hiroicci
He's always been a right wing man, but he's trying to sell his "right-ness" to the voters more than ever. I wonder if he's been pushed by other right guys like Ishihara and Hashimoto, attempting to "out-right" them. It's a "how conservative can you get" contest.
We should mourn the imminent death of liberalism.
kaminarioyaji
Abe's getting desperate with the rhetoric then, and promising pie in the sky it seems...
Noda's an admirable enough Japanese PM; he's no game changer, but he's quietly getting on with whatever needs to be done (as far as he's been allowed to do by the precious LDP and their constant need for concessions), instead of worrying about his popularity with Taro Public.
To the Japanese people - 2 weeks ago, the US re-elected a supposedly unpopular president. Why? Because the alternative was far worse. Please take that into consideration when you exercise your right to suffrage next month.
Patrick McCormick
Personally, being a non-Japanese resident but still connected by way of relatives ... I cannot see how folks will think Abe would be any different from Noda. This is old fashioned politicking to your opponents' weakness and blunders. Though the electorate in any given nation isn't very bright ... so I don't expect them to vote intelligently. At any rate, I am curious to know how any politician is able to "inspire" normal Japanese to spend more to get the country out of stagnation.
Disillusioned
Wow! Echos of Ishihara! Most of the Japanese I have spoken to don't support his policies, especially about changing the constitution. One can only hope that common sense will prevail and these mullets will not be put back into power. Abe's economical plan is totally flawed and will ruin an already stuffed economy.
slumdog
Yeah, take it from the Japanese people.
susteki
2006-2007 Resigned because of a stomach ailment..........Man up! This is the problem with Japan and their politics, no one wants to stand up, they would rather run and hide.
globalwatcher
AKBfanNov. 22, 2012 - 10:22AM JST
And it will never work. Please refer my post with weblink. See the down trend graphs. Thanks.
blue_monday
Subtext, Abe knows that inflation will erase the value of the savings of elderly voters, who are more likely to vote, so he has added some Ishihara style jingoism, strengthening the military, as a sop.
Once elected he will find himself bogged down in vested interests, and suddenly develop a severe stomach ailment.
nath
yes, Japan, please protect America's poor troops. Idiot
Impersonator
I think he actually believes that this is going to help. Sure, it will help private companies and other fat cats, but it will only hurt the common Taro.
This guy's problem is that he has no idea what it feels like to struggle every day to make ends meet as most humble people do. Not his fault, I think.
telecasterplayer
Oh yeah, because he totally did that the last time he was PM. Oh wait, he didn't?
Rhino
Just more of the same old...
Why not try something new? Sell weed in pharmacies and slap 80% tax on it. (That will also get people off these nasty toxic air fresheners.)
Other than that, there is obviously still the option of structural reforms. Don`t know about that though.
Much better question: If Abe is sworn in on December 17th, will he still be prime minister by New Year?
Aska Sugiyama
All I can say is ganbatte Abe-kun :-)
P.S. We are not expecting most of your promise is not going to be true as usual. oh,wait. if the cicumstases is getting worse, he can excuse as sick and fade out easily .
nath
I in general hope and believe him, but construction bonds will deal with blue collar workers.
What about all the laid off white collar workers?
comarade_captain
Can Japan's defense measure against China? Absolutely NOT! The japanese coast guard were exhausted and their naval deployment reluctant to get involved in the Senkaku dispute! Theyw ere losing 'sea' everyday!
ares7
Ok Abe-san, let's see. Nuclear power issue, punt. Debt issue, punt. aging nation, punt. Empty rhetoric, in massive amounts. Specifics on turning the economy around (besides buying construction bonds), none. Strengthening the "Coast Guard" to defend Senkaku while the Chinese strengthens military class ships, pure genius, like investing in knives for a gun fight.
comarade_captain
Japan is no where to jump start her military budget after the Fukushima nuclear accident and Mr abe's claim is totally a boast with groundless pledging, typical japanese politicians character before election!
comarade_captain
There will be nothing besides printing 'Yen' in the coming Abe govt in Japan! He has nothing better to choose even the LDP party has much fewer LDP party members than before and I doubt he can control the country when situation is much worst than 2007, the year he leave the PM office!
comarade_captain
A revision to Japan’s war-renouncing constitution to allow Japanese troops to defend American troops in case of foreign attacks on Japan
Here you go, Mr Abe, you have written a new chapter of history, the most 'unique'one in modern times!
shanabelle
He sounds and looks so ummm, ehhhhh, convincing~~
BertieWooster
Upgrayedd-san,
Oh yes it can.
hkitagawa
We need to reactivate all atomic plants and cut dependence in gas and petroleum and then replace it gradually by new technologies like solar energy. We need to make nuclear weapons for self defense to avoid the country to be taken like Tibet, built new technologies like space elevator and microwave power plans in the moon since space has infinite natural resources. The industry need to be profitable again. It needs to open the borders for immigration. Increase foreigner relation with Africa, Brazil, India.
Kazuaki Shimazaki
@Serrano Are you sure? They HAVE been the dominant party in Japan for most of its post-war history. They might be bad, but the others are arguably worse.
@Yubaru It is 1%. I'm basically forced to support the LDP despite my suspicion of their other programs (especially the "fling concrete" program) simply because they are the major Japanese party that's relatively serious about defense.
@Patrick McCormickNov. 22, 2012 - 10:58AM JST Nobody is really able to do much in Japan because of the need to have a consensus on everything. I'm going for the guy that's at least saying the things I want to hear.
@globalwatcher On the Art 9 thing, I support him. Think long term, people. The real way to not have to join in America's military adventures is to have a strong enough military that the USFJ become a nice-to-have instead of a necessity. To even partially achieve that, Japan needs a stronger military.
Art 9 technically can be interpreted so it doesn't limit that, but there are too many people that see Art 9 in only one way that it is a constant roadblock. Thus, to get closer to Art 9 you actually have to dismiss it.
As for the whole sensyuu bouei crap it needs to fly out the window. II is the most inefficient way to defend. Japan can't afford any inefficiency these days, certainly not in defense.
globalwatcher
Kazuaki ShimazakiNov. 23, 2012 - 09:24PM JST
@globalwatcher On the Art 9 thing, I support him.
You will get what you ask for. I have read his vision of Japan. He can call mandatory military service for Japan while Japan's aging population is on rise, and he is ready to send Japan's sheep generations to a slaughter house (the Middle East, the South East Asia). Good luck to you all.
PT24881
Slogan itself looks scary ! What future this man could lead Japan to is another story. Former PM who 'escaped' from his office before term just a few years ago, has the conviction & blue- blood family background but missing the physical strength & strong will to get things done. A few provocative slogans drafted by his aids are good enough to save Japan from the crisis & nation's downturns ? Today's Japan is no more the scenario in 1930's, the war drum batting posture will only work out vis-a-vis a handful of right-wingers but not the majority of J-citizens who have educated brains to think !
BertieWooster
This person is Japan's worst nightmare.
A total, creepy, brown-nosed US sycophant, whose dream is to make Japan a military power once more, with nucular (sic) weapons, fighting alongside the US!
Please, send this guy to the happy farm, along with Ishihara, et al.