Five challenges facing Japan's new PM Ishiba

No mention of the cost of living. Pass the buck on to companies to increase wages.

Not his problem it seems.

This could be his biggest mistake.

Interesting how the nikkei freefall after Ishiba's win. He's saying all the right things in terms of higher wages etc. which should translate to better spending and more profits???

Or is the market saying interest rate normalisation is going to siphon profits from companies?

Either way, it must be a surprise to the market that he won particularly that he trailed behind others in the first round.

Now he's got all these new people in cabinet that are low on experience...

IMHO, Japan is going to be in for very interesting times, particularly on October 27th.

I think there are way more than a mere five challenges. Way more.

No mention of the cost of living

Actually, he does think normalising interest rate will help appreciate the yen which will translate into lower costs for imports. Though I doubt he understands fully the ramification to the economy if IR is not managed as a function of cost of money to businesses AND consumers.

To me, a number of LDP candidates pulled a swifty on each other to remove Kishida using the decades old 'slush fund' dirt playbook. It's back to revolving door leadership now...because they all want the top job, and the only way to get that is snipe each other.

higher wages etc. which should translate to better spending and more profits???

I am not sure that higher wages means more profits, but they do translate to higher production costs, higher consumer prices, higher inflation, and would have an effect on the yen exchange rate.

So, as with many things in life, not as simple as it seams.

Also no mention of that on-going problem that the LDP has been grappling with for many years and seem to unable to move on.

Should married women be able to maintain their maiden name?

Interesting how the nikkei freefall

this might just have been a nikkei bubble caused by expectations of a Sanae win

Such a shocking assessment from ... checks institutional association, Center for Strategic and International Studies. CSIS contributors include Lockheed Martin, Exxon Mobil, Northrop Grumman, Government of the USA, Government of Japan and last but not least, Taiwan. Mind you it is not the Government of Taiwan.

"The rapidly deteriorating security environment in Asia favors more security cooperation with the United States and other partners," he said.

Today, the cost of living jumps quite significantly. The saba bento I used to buy is going up by 25% let alone the increment of the postal services etc. Does it make sense to call an election so soon after this heavy burden that we will all feel?

As long as this country keeps promoting aging oyajis to positions of power, nothing is going to change. People need to step up and put progressive and forward thinking individuals to these positions.

But who am I kidding...

S

deanzaZZRToday 08:06 am JST

Mind you it is not the Government of Taiwan.

There is no government but the one in Taipei. All others have no control.

"In Japan, if you win an election, you are considered to be purified," so some MPs "involved in the scandals may return to the public stage"

Yeah, that makes sense.

These are the same five policy challenges, amongst others, Shinzo Abe, Yoshihide Suga, Fumio Kishida pledged to tackle!

Shinzo Abe took office 2012!

Doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

Shigeru Ishiba, at the very least, appears to be the next senior LDP politician to find the "top chair" when the music stopped.

He is a political amateur, what does he know about economics and security ? What he has achieved in the past 38 years? Ishiba is just wasting your time!

Anpanman doesn't seem to be very popular, but I guess the LDP will win anyway.

He has got a policy -- he wants to make people smile again. I'm not smiling and I bet you aren't either.

First priority is to immediately increase aid to the Noto peninsula region devastated by earthquake and floods.

And by increase I mean move massive funding to get the job done and involve the SDF in a Big way - as in mobilize 10,000 personnel, bring in mobile hospitals / housing / community facilities, etc . The current levels of pain and despair for 1,000s is numbing.

Begin a concerted undertaking to the huge clean up and infrastructure re-build.

This needs to be done Now - Today.

Ishiba - show you've got your foot on the throttle and hands firmly controlling the wheel.

The 5 listed challenges are all important but can start tomorrow.

To be fair to Shigeru Ishiba, he was amongst the most senior LDP politicians that did not forcefully lockdown Japan economy during the pandemic.

Shigeru Ishiba will also think carefully before pandering to the "climate change" cultists.

The costs of "transitioning" to a "green" electricity transmission network needs careful planning beyond the next century to allow next generation climate change technology to be fully developed.

My dog, yet another old man leading the country, he is nearly 70 but looks 10 yrs older, where are all the younger politicians?.......But then, if he was 45 or 55 he would still take his orders from the LDP. ps...........I read earlier that prices have already gone up in food stores and for postal services. Profit and greed will overrun all.

Look at the state of him. At least Kishida looks like some kind of leader.

Kishida-san did tried very hard to bring Japan back to track.He quit because he have had enough that bureaucracy and he have to go. This guy make me remember "Mori-san", they are the same people out of touch with the world. Do you know why it takes five times for Mr.Ishiba to get in the office, because he is not a smart guy. But if you line up, your turn will comes. It is not about talent or popularity, just you are old enough and a little luck !

elephant200Today  10:10 am JST

He is a political amateur, what does he know about economics and security ? What he has achieved in the past 38 years? Ishiba is just wasting your time!

Back in 2003 when Ishiba was head of the Defense Agency he suggested that Japan acquire the ability to strike North Korean missile launch sites causing considerable controversy. Today Japan maintains Tomahawk cruise missles which can accomplish that. Ishiba has not been in the forefront, but he's far from a political amateur.

>

Well. As I stated before, today is the day when the cost of leaving jumps!

https://japantoday.com/category/national/prices-of-3-000-products-to-rise-from-tuesday-postal-rates-also-going-up

Defense Agency he suggested that Japan acquire the ability to strike North Korean missile launch sites causing considerable controversy.

Mr.Ishiba's bad idea is cheap, very very cheap but if it is time to press the button, that is a very different business. The North Korean ballistic missile is far advanced than 2004. By the way, Russia is back in north east Asia.Mr.Putin has been annoyed by Japan's constant annoying to get that 4 little islands. Japan's Tomahawk deployment just attracts more incoming ballistic objects. Tomahawk can be intercepted, 40 years old technology !

And China.....we are far ahead than 2004, we are preparing for space war. I don't think those little Tomahawk crackers has changed the strategic posture of Japan. It just made her being a "Human shield at sea" for U.S. but of course the Americans like you doesn't cares the lives of the others !

elephant200Today 03:44 pm JST

Tomahawks fly 100 feet about ground. Good luck with that interception. Maybe Russia should focus on feeding its troops and China keeping its subs afloat.

Sluggish consumption and wage growth have long been a drag on growth in Japan.

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Yeh, pretty obvious that if inflation rises and wages don’t then people can’t and won’t buy more…

It looks like he is aware of the problems he faces. That is a good start.