politics

Abe says his priorities are N Korea and aging Japan

23 Comments
By Mari Yamaguchi

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23 Comments
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mmwkdm, no worry. Abe said that he will protect Japanese people. He never said that he will sacrifice them.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

When the Body bags of the Young Japanese start rolling in, then we'll see a change in attitude. The Young being Japan's future, simply being wasted away upon a Political Whim ???

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

No, his actual priorities are power, fame, and money.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

lol, what about that elusive arrow? No? Ok, nothing to see here. Just more hot air!!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Abe must remember that he is a PM of Japan, not a PM of the world. Abe's priority should be always Japan first. To that end, Abe must waste no time to improve the very important relationship with China, badly damaged by his own policy of the last 5 years. Abe doesn't need to Pivot to Asia. Asia is his home, and a home for all Japanese.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

hachikouToday  10:08 pm JST

The need to change the constitution, article 9 is not to start the war but save allies.

I doubt if Abe and his Nippon Kaigi friends think in such terms.

If you were Japanese self defence force, and right in front of your eyes, US solider is injured and about to get shot by North Korean soliders.

I'm not "Japanese self defence force" and to be totally honest I doubt if there would ever be such a situation. The North Korean soldiers would have to be engaged in hostile actions in Japan itself, which I think the SDF would be able to do something about, and in any case since 2014 the government has ruled that the SDF can protect allies. I don't even think American and North Korean forces will ever engage in conflict anyway.

So in other words I think any debate on this topic is a massive waste of time and effort that could be used to pass legislation that actually makes a meaningful difference in Japanese people's everyday lives.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Dango bong: This priority is changing the constitution so Japan can fight wars

LandofExcuses: And most certainly lose... yet again!

smithinjapan: Well, I know a couple of old guys who have said they were rather see Japan destroyed than a more successful China, South Korea, or North Korea. No joke.

I think you people are very misguided and well, you can live the way you like. I don't care.

Hate Abe as much as you like.

The need to change the constitution, article 9 is not to start the war but save allies.

If you were Japanese self defence force, and right in front of your eyes, US solider is injured and about to get shot by North Korean soliders.

With current "Pacifist Law", aritcle 9, you cannot shoot North Korean soliders to save US soldiers.

Because "self" defence force, self means only Japan, not the US. How ridiculous is that?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

My focus is this and that and for that I will do NOTHING at all.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Abe's priority like most politicians is and always had been....Abe!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Well, he's probably going to make the Elderly pay more for everything and with less of a Pension, and perhaps make it so difficult to live, that we see an increase in Elderly Suicides.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

More robots and cheap, expendable labour... Abe's solution in a few words.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

"The problem is progressing by the minute, and we cannot afford waiting around."

i expect nothing more than small, incremental changes, rather than fundamental and bold reforms of the nature required to seriously address Japan's issues.

He promised a comprehensive package ... including investments in education, productivity improvements

He's going to borrow and spend more money, in other words. He's had five years already, not like he's finally learned a new trick now...

and pension system reform

interesting... what is all that about? Again I doubt it will be anything meaningful, but interested to learn more, all the same.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

LandofExcuses: "And most certainly lose... yet again!"

Well, I know a couple of old guys who have said they were rather see Japan destroyed than a more successful China, South Korea, or North Korea. No joke.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

his priority is changing the constitution so Japan can fight wars

And most certainly lose... yet again!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

A bigger liar than ever. His priorities are to change the Constitution and raise taxes; his excuses are North Korea and the elderly.

joyridingonthetitanic: "Abe may be able to push it though the upper and lower house but it still has to be approved by a public referendum. "

You must be new here. No, he does not need the public's permission, same as he hasn't on restarting NPPs, passing the Secret's Law, My Number, "redefining" the Constitution, and a dozen other things he's done. And lest we forget, even if you insist on the public approval, he said flat out this election was a "mandate" for his performance thus far and his plans to come. This 2/3rds majority is "public approval" by his rationale. He will do whatever he wants.

"A written and legal acknowledgment is hardly a return to the rampant militarism of the 1930s is it?"

When it's created by a man who absolutely adored the man in charge of a number of atrocities, and who has said flat out he wishes to return to a "beautiful Japan", it may well mean that indeed.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Abe priorities are to ensure LDP in power, lots of fiscal spending, land, projects & funds to "interested" parties, business as usual, use Kim Jong An as bogeyman, etc. In Japan, LDP and the 60s, 70s & 80s male elders rule.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

I think everyone gets hung up on the topic of changing the constitution. Abe may be able to push it though the upper and lower house but it still has to be approved by a public referendum. Also, it does make sense at the basic level, to include the SDF formally in the constitution purely on the basis that hey exist and currently are not acknowledged at all in that document. A written and legal acknowledgment is hardly a return to the rampant militarism of the 1930s is it?

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Votes to The Ruling Parties was about 30% only of all votes.

But They got about 70% seats.

Anti-Abe Government votes divided between opposition parties' candidates again.

moreover,

at least during election campaign,

under the name of "political neutrality",

Japan's Mainstream Media were coward to criticism the politics.

about political issue or social issue,

Japanese general public is very forgetful or do not think it own issue.

and Voter Turnout is still low.

Japan's election has many problems.

This result let many japanese may give up stopping Authoritarianism of Abe Government,let Japanese Media become more coward.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

The problem is progressing by the minute, and we cannot afford waiting around

He just admitted he has been doing nothing about it. How about more schools? daycare centers? Low wages? Labor shortages? .... you know the basic stuff!

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Premiums will increase for the young to pay for the elderly is not a bad thing according to majority of youngsters. Sales tax increases in items that luxury items like tobacco, alcohol etc and as for promises that do not come to fruition is perfect fit for the new hope party as their is no real plan from that group. While I agree NK should be looked at and not avoided, China is a much larger threat to Japan than NK. Notice that NK doesn't care one way or the other about Japans government however China does. China is always the first country calling Japan as militaristic. Chinese came to Japan and continue like locusts eating up all the Japanese resources and leaving spoils behind. I am glad to see Abe as the winner.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

his priority is changing the constitution so Japan can fight wars

7 ( +9 / -2 )

He promised a comprehensive package by the end of the year to deal with Japan's demographic challenges, including investments in education, productivity improvements and pension system reform.

This sounds dangerous. Improvements to the pension system can only mean one thing, premiums for the young will increase to pay for the elderly. And, the investments in education can only come from a further sales tax increase. Both of these 'extras' are gonna come straight out of Naoki Average's pocket putting even more pressure on the dwindling economy.

However, on the other hand, every time he has won an election he comes up with new promises, none of which ever come into fruition, so I guess there's no need to panic.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

His focus on these 2 issues is why he and his party got the landslide. It would have been chaos and suffocation with any of the opposition in power, thankfully the bullet was averted

-10 ( +0 / -10 )

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