Noda says 2012 will be start of Japan's rebirth

I wonder if he actually believes anything he said.

I'm afraid there'll be birth defects from Fukushima. Doesn't the govt read the lessons learned from Chernobyl?

Give him credit at least for being optimistic.

My thoughts are though that Japan's exporters will have a better year in 2012, with the recovery in the US creating a bit of strength in the USD.

That aside, the long, slow Japanese decline will continue as before.

Rebirth? ... sure hope so ...

After reading all the lies dished out to the public last year about Fukushima, radiation, and TEPCO, I wonder if anyone will believe what the Jgovernment says.

Japan's rebirth? will take alteast nine months and baby will be grown up only after 20+ years. Noda needs to find other alternatives.

There is always after birth after birth. Let's see what he can do.

I am an American, BUT I feel Noda is going to furnish leadership that will bring back the Japan we always knew. I like this man and I am willing to help - (Not Hinder) 7 comments that offer nothing cutesy hinderings!

I do hope what he stated will be done. Most Japanese polticians are only good in talks and politicking. They other parties will never cooperate with the ruling party because they are busy politicking on how to remove the ruling one. No matter what it takes ... that's politics. hehehehe..

Noda said recovery of the disaster-hit areas is No. 1 on his list of challenges that includes tax and social welfare reform, coping with the strong yen, Japan’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade talks talks and boosting economic growth. “I am a realist. Without growth there will be no fiscal reconstruction,” he said.

Well said and well summarized comments made by Noda. Good for him. This guy got a crystal ball!!. Thanks god, finally.. What he is saying is that he is trying to make a "Japan Pizza" from medium to larger size for Japanese. . Restration of Tohoku is actually interepreted as a domestic spending based on real needs unlike unnecessary earmark spendng like airports to nowhere, and Cultural Hakomono with no visitors.

Also, he is talking about his interest on TPP development preparing Japan for a future Japanese business model based on competitiveness in global market that requires agressive acceleration of capital investment.

that would create a political vacuum and delay reconstruction work.

He's got it right here. There have been too many unfinished business still pending that many past Japanese politicians failed to accomplish. It takes a strong leadership to propose tax hike while cutting overspending on civil servants and rual politicians to keep a house in order. I have never heard such agressive proposals from any recent J. politicians. I have been reading his blogs from the beginning, and I have been convinced that he means well. He is not focusing on his popularity, and party line politics. He is simply trying to do what is a best interest for Japan and Japanese poeple. These two issues I have mentioned above; tax hike and cutting civil servant and rural politicians at the same time, are unheard of in J. political history. Japanese people have been suffering too much too long, and they want a "quick fix" right now, which I do not blame at all, but this is a time Japanese have to be patient with him allowing him to get the jobs done. Not only Japanese, the world has been looking for a strong leader of Japan. I believe finally Japan got one they have been looking for and deserve. I would like to express my strong support and endorsement for Noda. Noda is willing and is ready to take the most difficult challenges ahead of him and I am very confident he will be able to DELIVER the larger size Pizza people of Japan ordered. Call customer service at 1-800-JAPAN-PIZZA. or JAPANPIZZA.com

I'll believe it when I see it

I congradulate Globalwatcher for his strong blog giving Noda a promise of his support. This is so different from all the cutesy blogs that only critisize.. Noda is going to lead us in the right direction and I am going to Help him - I look for 2012 to be year of change and accomplishment

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Sunday that 2012 will be the year of Japan’s rebirth.

The LDP and their successors of late the DPJ have been unable to arrest Japan's political and economic decline for nigh on 2 decades now. With things at their worst with the added 3/11 disasters and their aftermath, there's little reason to believe that a puppet PM like Noda and the rest of his administration will be able to accomplish much of anything this year.

We'll see if they can get the consumption tax rise implemented. One way or the other, Noda will then exit the prime ministership.

Without the rebirth of Fukushima, there will not be a rebirth of Japan.

Without Fukushima there hadn't been death at all and I personally prefer to live. Stuff your rebirth Noda, who messed up the NPP? It could have been saved even after the tsunami if it hadn't been in the hands of multimillionaire amateurs.

I am a realist. Without growth there will be no fiscal reconstruction

Wow....! I can't help admiring his elevated intellectual power. What a speech! What a man!

2012 will be the start of Japan's rebirth... and then 2014 (or whatever year he gets his beloved younger-generation-destroying consumption tax hike) will be the resumption of Japan's decline.

I agree... the people of japan need to have patience... If not, the world is going to see Japan fall even more out of date with the rest of the world. Right now they are in 3d place.. mainly because of the products they make.. what if they don't have those? Crazy to think Japan as a 4th or 5th place country... but only time will tell.