Abe supports conservative ally Takaichi as Suga's successor

For those of you who wanted a female PM. Just one small caveat — she’s a pawn of your favorite former PM Shinzo Abe.

Shes a real piece of work, and just as conservative as Aso. It’s not as if she’s going to win anyway

How about this? Let's clean out the diet of anyone who is over 65 years of age. Then replace the prime minister with someone in his 40s that actually understands what direction Japan needs to go in.

Takaichi is set to soon release a book stating she will succeed the conservative policies pursued by Abe. Together with Abe, she serves as an adviser of a group of conservative members formed last year within the LDP.

Maybe Abe is taking a page from some Western politicraft. Takaichi will support Abe's push to revise the constitution, increase military budgets and keep on promtoing pro-business,anti-worker neo-liberal policies.

But she is female!Look how progressive we are!Cool Japan!

When a law was passed so that base-hosting municipalities will receive special government subsidies according to the size of the bases they host, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Sanae Takaichi praised its passage highly, paying no heed to the fact that that would help perpetuate the U.S. military presence, in Okinawa in particular.

The LDP president is effectively synonymous with prime minister as the LDP controls the powerful House of Representatives.

Which proves that this country is not a democracy. There is no real opposition allowed to challenge the status quo.

At any rate, Nippon Kaigi will ALWAYS decide who the next PM is. Abe backing a woman is very smart as it makes him look progressive and a female PM will be able to implement some VERY right wing policies while the public is star struck with having the first female PM and she will be able to get away with alot of things that a male PM won't.

A female PM could still cement LDP leadership, as right now support for the party is at an all time low.

Lets hope the Japanese people are smart enough to find someone outside of the LDP to lead.

I'm all for a Japanese female PM... Just not this one. She may be more radical than Abe. I'd prefer Kono.

Asiaman7Today  07:19 am JST

For those of you who wanted a female PM. Just one small caveat — she’s a pawn of your favorite former PM Shinzo Abe.

She's got far less reputable acquaintances than Shinzo Abe, which is saying a lot.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/09/neo-nazi-photos-pose-headache-for-shinzo-abe

Abe's efforts to revise Article 9 have been limited to revising the second paragraph that prohibits the existence of a military. An obvious contraduiction since the JSDF is the 6th largest military in the world. Officially recognizing their existence will eliminate constant time wasting constitutional debates. Abe has not advocated touching the 1st paragraph which prohibitrs Japan from using military force to resolve diplomatic and territorial disputes, the paragraph which makes Japan's constitution a "Peace Constitution". At the same time Abe has cooperated to the extent possible with US strategic regional goals. The CCP internet army has painted Abe as a rightwing fascist when in fact the CCP is the biggest most powerful fascist regime in the world under Xi jing Ping, ruler for life, and a recognized threat to to the QUAD, NATO and all free Asian nations.

As far as I am concerned, Takaichi as the first female J-PM woud be just fine.

Seems like Shinzo's decided his career is finally over so he's gone full Class A, visiting Yasukuni four times in his cosplay monkey suit, and now supporting the Nazi admirer Takaichi.

Apparently her latest wheeze is jailing people who disrespect the Japanese flag.

Women keep leading a lower position in whole society not so abusive dealing as Afghan Taliban here in Japan .

With no voting right of the LDP Leader Election , interesting attempt kicks off whatsoever.Using her , Abe intends to be a king maker. Suga has no so ambition any longer .

The ironical thing (deeply ironic) is that the United States has supported and cultivated the rise of politicians like Abe and Takachi whose political ideas are streamlined replicas of 1930s Japanese ultra-nationalism. If Japan was not backed up by American military bases and nukes, the Japanese political caste couldn't afford to sprinkle sugar on its World War II atrocities, deeply offending Chinese, Koreans and other Asians.

OssanAmericaToday  09:55 am JST

The CCP internet army has painted Abe as a rightwing fascist

He's done a fine job of that himself.

She's no different from Abe's mouthpiece Marukawa Tamayo.

Although she seems to speak well in sugary tones . Their contents good or bad sounds separated problem .

Honeyed posture will be favorite as well as Koike .

Japan's Deep Right has more tongues than teeth.

Many credible candidates appear from next to next . It is interesting assignment to try to do tout like of this election result who is a next leader & Prime Minister(?).

Anyone lacks of decisive force .

Hitting an expectation would be a difficult task at the moment .

When Imperial Japan attacked Pearl Harbor by surprise, it was at the zenith of imperialism. IJA General Hideki Tojo was at the helm of it as prime minister at the time.

Post-war right-winger politicians, mostly LDP MPs, are ideological descendants of pre-war day imperialists. It is these politicians who cozy up to Washington and do as Washington dictates however sacrifice and damage it may inflict upon their own nationals.  

It is these politicians that pay annual visits to Yasukuni Shrine or make religious offerings if they can't visit in person. It is these people who don't care about Okinawa's vociferous opposition but forge ahead with the construction of the Henoko new base just to please Washington, ever wagging its tail.

Takaishi is one of those politicians. I don't care if she is female or male.

No doubt he is a "Yasukuni Shrine" workshipper!

Lots of hatred and personal attacks.

Let’s hear some specific reasons why she would be a bad for Japan or why someone else would be better.

She performed lately very well when I saw her appearing in an evening TV program. I think she has managed in that discussion to really brush up her image and brought some good points, therefore she has and deserves quite some chances and probably could make it, more than even some other candidates.

Happy DayToday  01:54 pm JST

Lots of hatred and personal attacks.

Let’s hear some specific reasons why she would be a bad for Japan

I'm a bit unclear as to what the "the conservative policies pursued by Abe" were exactly, although Japan had eight years of his leadership and it hardly seemed to benefit anyone except those Yamaguchi koenkai folks that got to go to exclusive hanami parties and stay in luxury hotels.

As for Takaichi, what sort of impression do you get from her photo-ops with neo-nazis and threats to shut down "biased" media outlets? I'm not filled with confidence personally.

or why someone else would be better.*

Anyone not endorsed by a third-generation, third-rate provincial spiv has got to be preferable.

Sven AsaiToday  02:51 pm JST

She performed lately very well when I saw her appearing in an evening TV program.

What did she have to say for herself, specifically?

Takaichi will … keep on promtoing pro-business, anti-worker neo-liberal policies.

Thoee policies aren’t neoliberal policies.

Those are Big Government, central planning policies.

Neoliberal policies would slash the size and role of government (not just change where the money is spent).

I want me some neoliberal policies here in Japan. Then we would all live happily ever after.

Abe & Taro, as kingmakers will determine the next PM or the popularity of the candidate from voters?

The way it's going more likely kingmakers determine. In Japan, not much will change. Status quo and bureaucrats will call the shot.

All of these hacks are basically the same guy wearing a different Halloween mask and going by a different name. The only way things will ever change here is if we get someone who's young and from outside the box of insiders.

Whoever Abe supports should not be supported.

This Takaishi's policies are just as warlike as OP.

I'd support Ishiba or Yukio Edano.

According to lots of JT Spin Doctors:

1) Japan would not be able to complete the Olympic Stadium on time, consequently would be the first and only country unable to be ready for the games;

2) The Olympic Games would be canceled;

3) Japan would still be struggling with Covid inoculations well past the year 3000 (!);

Outcome:

The spin failed miserably!

4) Japan will NEVER have a woman at the helm.

Prediction:

Really hope she wins big and the opposing venomous Spin Doctors lose miserably once more.

Abe-san’s blessing will be Takaichi-san’s curse.

People also forget that while Takaichi is able to brush off the photo-incident as an "accident", she also ran around promoting a book that praised Hitler in the 90s:

https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/japan-adolf-hitler-book-haunts-interior-minister-sanae-takaichi-1465067

Not someone who should ever be in the position of PM.

Simon FostonToday  11:34 am JST

OssanAmericaToday  09:55 am JST

The CCP internet army has painted Abe as a rightwing fascist

He's done a fine job of that himself.

How? By visiting a shrine that other foreign national leaders have visited? That a USMC General has visited? Tell us exactly what he has done to make him a rightwing fascist.

@Karyuudo

Let's clean out the diet of anyone who is over 65 years of age. Then replace the prime minister with someone in his 40s that actually understands what direction Japan needs to go in.

Just imagined how this would work in other contries, the U.S. for example: nobody older then 65 in Congress, the president in his 40s...

When you realize that genuflecting at a shrine to fascism by Japanese leaders in clown suits is the high point of Japanese democracy. Lol

OssanAmericaToday  07:04 pm JST

He's done a fine job of that himself.

How? By visiting a shrine that other foreign national leaders have visited? That a USMC General has visited?

If he goes to that place he's not very likely to be a social democrat, is he.

Tell us exactly what he has done to make him a rightwing fascist.

Having NHK documentaries about the Emperor censored, appointing politicians like Sanae Takaichi with neo-nazi connections, arranging shady land deals for Nippon Kaigi cronies like Yasunori Kagoike, and generally white-washing any nasty bits of Japanese wartime history he doesn't like, presumably they reflect badly on the regime his dear, departed, (debauched, depraved) grandpa Kishi was involved in.

Why, how would you describe his political viewpoints? I get the idea that you'd forgive him anything because he gave the impression of being tough on China, although of course he wouldn't have dared say "boo" to them without the US military in Japan backing him up.

@Simon Foston

If he goes to that place he's not very likely to be a social democrat, is he

Going to that place neither makes him a fascist.

Having NHK documentaries about the Emperor censored

In Thailand you can get a very lengthy prison time if you say something offensive about the king. Does it make Thailand a fascist country? And are you sure that BBC can air just anything about the British royal family, without any censorship? Is UK a fascist country too?

Sanae Takaichi with neo-nazi connections

You have very too vague and distorted idea what neo-nazi means, seriously.

generally white-washing any nasty bits of Japanese wartime history

And the U.S., UK or France never do something like that about their wartime or colonial past! They eagerly tell the world at any occasion about their crimes and denounce their past leaders, right?

arranging shady land deals for Nippon Kaigi

And in the U.S. or Europe, those wonderlands of crystal honest politicians, shady deals do no exist, no sir! Only in nasty Japan!

AsakazeToday  12:29 am JST

I really can't be bothered with Soviet-style "what about....?" arguments.

Kokegawa (Sep. 6 06:20 pm JST),

Thank you for the reference site.

I didn't know Takaichi was an admirer of Adolf Hitler for his strong-mindedness as a leader.

Anything endorsed by Abe was is surely the kiss of death…

Abe recommended him? Got it!

(writes note - Do not vote for Takaichi. Buy toothpaste.)

shogun36,

Do not vote for Takaichi. Buy toothpaste

The catch is that eligible voters in this election are only LDP lawmakers and LDP-registered party members in society at large. 

This is the election to choose an LDP chairman. But a majority chairman automatically becomes prime minister and the LDP meets this condition. 

If a prime minister wants to really represent the nation, he/she should be elected by general voters’ direct voting.

Go for it Sanae Takaichi.

A female leader for Japan would be good.

Reality in Japan ?

They have that here ?

Seems like la la land

@Simon Foston

I really can't be bothered with Soviet-style "what about....?" arguments

Because out of logical arguments? Sure, don't bother. Comparative thinking is not a Soviet invention, by the way.

AsakazeToday  06:44 pm JST

Because out of logical arguments? Sure, don't bother.

No, I won't bother. The most suitable response to one of your remarks I can think of would get deleted by the moderators, and everything else you came up with was irrelevant to the topic of the article. Anything I said in response would also be irrelevant, and probably deleted by the moderators for being off-topic. Total waste of time.