Next Japanese PM faces daunting challenges

If the challenges are so daunting then why are there so many politicians in the race to be PM?

After Abe the next guy will look like a hero, the bar is set quite low in Japan

Might be time for these old men to realise their stupidity and poisened decisions have got all of us where we are now. Example... the youth have no interest in family it's not because of them it's because the government have made it so hard to earn a wage that supports themselves let alone a family. And that's an obvious example of the culpability of government decisions degrading the lives of a huge percentage of the population. Then they blame young people for not sticking to their happy, happy joy, joy narrative.

The successor to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is resigning because of poor health, faces a daunting list of economic, diplomatic and security issues.

And why are so many pundits "praising" Abe for the job he has done?

If the next PM faces these problems, the blame SHOULD be openly placed at Abe's feet! Abe needs to be "slam-dunked" in the court of public opinion, and blamed for this and a host of other failures.

The LDP should also be looking for someone other than a puppet to lead the country as well!

Daunting? Yes, cleaning up after the unholy mess Abe has left must be daunting.

Next Japanese PM faces daunting challenges

Not really. He will be dealing with a sheeple that just goes along with whatever the gov does or says. He is surrounded and supported by Nippon Kaigi which makes all the decisions for him anyway, removing much of the pressure on him. He does not have to worry about the opposition as it is fragmented and the media machine will help make sure it stays that way.

Being a politician in Japan is a Mickey Mouse job

Next Japanese PM faces daunting challenges

Ya think?

Great big ......YAWN!!!

With the exception of abe wanting to change the constitution these issues have ALL been front & centre since I washed up here 30yrs ago!!!

LDP strategy is simple, KICK the can down the road, expect this to likely continue!!!

I have trotted this one out in a while but Japan is sorely in need of a MEIJI type restoration!!

A full overhaul, re-invent, but do the people want to do it, its up to them, I am not hopeful

We will most likely continue with the same ole same ole & that is just pork barrel spending & meetings & nothing concrete(unless its coming out the end of a truck onto the ground somewhere!)

GW...... Exactly! I think one of the problems is leaders in their late 60’s and 70’s... No long term vision. Kicking the can down the road is easy when you will be either dead or in a care home in 10 years.

Washington may press Tokyo to take sides. 

I think with USAs annexation of 3.5% of Japanese land, total control of areas of Japanese airspace it deems nesassary, dictating which most expensive American only weapons we can buy, keeping nuclear weapons in japan against Japanese law, I don’t understand the press Tokyo to take sides part.

Japan's ties with China had improved ahead of a planned visit by President Xi Jinping, but the trip was postponed because of the coronavirus. 

Given China has consistently taken the "soft" - when facing strong response - and "forceful" - when its opponent is indecisive - approach to gain an advantage against its neighbours and weaker claimants in the Southeast Asia Sea, I believe Japan should continue its tough stance against this big and ugly bully. If Abe's defence policy is proven to be effective, the next PM of Japan should maintain it.

Critics said Abe's "third arrow" of structural reforms - the first two were hyper-easy monetary policy and government spending - was not bold enough in the face of a fast-ageing population and a rigid labor market.

First arrow is successful for those with most money aka foreign investors. Abe artificially inflated the stock markets and asset markets to lure foreign investors buying them. Meanwhile, most of Japanese economy didn't greatly benefit from his action, especially the regional banks.

Second arrow is to stimulate government spendings that only benefit the big firms like Dentsu. Most of Japanese economy again do not see any benefit. SMEs and Japanese individual investors suffered greatly due to the tax hikes, and they never got any benefit from the massive spending programs.

The two arrows were successful for Abe and LDP cronies because they enriched them and their foreign masters.

*I think with USAs annexation of 3.5% of Japanese land, total control of areas of Japanese airspace it deems nesassary, dictating which most expensive American only weapons we can buy, keeping nuclear weapons in japan against Japanese law, I don’t understand the press Tokyo to take sides part.*

Also adding the part where the USA forced Japan to become a world's net creditor through forcing the Japan Inc and J-govt to buy all US Treasuries and put all Japanese assets in the USA or Western world that the US controls. The US Treasury has the power to embargo the entire Japanese economy and confiscate all Japanese assets in a heart beat if any Japanese leader opposes against Washington DC.

Japan is a client state to the USA.

Next prime minister of Japan who will be decided by closed doors politics is mere accomplice of problematic Abe government.