Most Japanese think Abe bears responsibility for scandal: polls

Of course he is responsible. No one imagines that the documents got altered by themselves. Someone did it. And if Abe did this, how many other similar things has he done? Surely this is not an isolated case.

Hit the road jack and don't you come back no more no more no more no more!

ya think??

Election - Duration - Scandal - Change talking head (repeat)

seems to me the japanese electorate is not as dumb or apathetic as either of these 2 men thought..

BertieWoosterToday  06:59 am JST

Of course he is responsible. 

If Abe didn't approve of what was happening, tacitly or otherwise, he's an imbecile for not preventing his own wife from having anything to do with such a dodgy deal. Either way, he'll have to something amazing to turn those polls around, and his time as PM has shown he's too much of a mediocre non-entity to do much more than talk big.

From one American's perspective, the scandal involving Prime Minister Abe, his wife, and Deputy Prime Minister/Finance Minister Aso, seems to be similar to many of the political scandals which our politicians have also presented to the American Public. It would appear that longevity in political office tends to breed arrogance in some politicians which in turn, tends to cloud their judgement, and often results in embarrassing scandals. Americans became so disgusted with many of their elected leaders that people turned to alternative political parties such as our Tea Party. Additionally, many of our Congressional members have also complained about the negative environment of American Politics.

I am uncertain whether or not the majority of Japanese voters will eventually become so disenchanted with the actions of their elected leaders that a "Japanese Version of the American Tea Party" would arise in Japan. I don't think that the current "Reform - Minded Political Parties" quite fit the image of the American Tea Party. I would be interested to know if other readers of Japan Today share my observations.

Thank you.

Best Wishes.

A Mainichi Shimbun poll similarly found 68 percent believe Abe bears responsibility. The newspaper didn't say how many disagreed.

Most likely because most of the remaining 32% weren't sure.

The Abes and that big Aso will still come out of this smelling like roses (again). God I hope I'm wrong.

Would have more respect (just a little mind) if these two bozos just admitted to the allegations put to them, rather than treat us all like dummy's.

Then throw themselves to our mercy. None from me though. Get caught with your hand in the cookie jar...you're out!

This is just a witch hunt. No one can prove PM Abe or Vice PM Aso was behind this, and not just low level beauraucrats. There is no way PM Abe will step down. Anyway, no one else is qualified to do the job.

Anyway, no one else is qualified to do the job.

You mean out of 127 million people there's nobody who can match his levels of corruption or incompetence? Come on, there must be surely?

Abe's got to go!

He's most definitely a liability on the world stage.

Anyway, no one else is qualified to do the job.

Abe isn't qualified either.

What it's going to take obviously is a vote of no confidence in the Diet to get the ball rolling. The in fighting between the LDP is going to start coming out in the open soon.

Ganbare Japan!Today  08:17 am JST

This is just a witch hunt. No one can prove PM Abe or Vice PM Aso was behind this, and not just low level beauraucrats.

Doesn't matter. What the low level bureaucrats did is their responsibility. Abe and Aso should have known what was going on, it directly affected Abe's wife, not just low level bureaucrats. So if they're not brazenly corrupt then they're gullible, negligent and stupid.

Mark Kazuo - thanks for your thoughts. Yes, Japan does not have sole possession of the "dubious political leaders" title. That's for sure.

In response to your question re a "Japanese Tea Party", it does exist but not as a seperate party. The Nippon Kaigi (google it) mirrors many of the antics and sentiments of the ultra-cons such as the tea Party.

And most of the LDPs senior politicians are active mmembers, including Abe, Aso and most of Abe's cabinet.

Nippon Kaigi is the "Matcha Party" - Japan's Tea Party.

I’m sure he and Taro Aso were well aware of the fraud and did nothing about it because there were kickbacks for them. However, any direct evidence to their knowledge or participation has long been burned. This is why these two criminals are standing fast with their denials and will never go to trial.

Now What?

Its time to think about the international fallout and Japan's Reputation ( see Kobe Steel fake data scandal .. etc) that most or everything of Japan's "good quality" is faked and probably not just single cases also politically or even connected as those LDP grandpa's usually get all those good high-ranging jobs once there politically done and wasted.

To get back on track, just frying a couple of low level fish wont solve it.

Big Heads need to roll, and that soon.

his easy-money“Abenomics” policies were dramatically starting to lift Japan out of decades of deflation.

That's just plain incorrect. The effects that the policies initially had were a rapid rise in stock prices and a rapid decrease in the value of the yen. There has been very little effect on inflation. I'm not saying whether any of these things are good or bad, just that the writer is wrong.

It's the situation where if they didn't know they look incompetent and should be toast, and if they did know they're obviously toast. Both Abe and Aso don't have a way out

It’s cultural to not punish the old boys in Japan. Whereas in some places its almost guaranteed that once you leave office, you’d better run or you’ll be jailed or killed (SK, Thailand etc)

This is more than cronyism. This is the way Abe controls Japan. The ruthless coordination, no respect of laws, no pity for human life. If there is no trust, then there should be no change of constitution. If LDP wants to change the constitution, then change Abe first.

“Most Japanese believe”...it should read all Japanese believe except for Abe, Kokei, Aso and Suga.

I've got a nice bottle of Dom Perignon on ice, to be opened when Abe finally goes/dies

Despite all the scandals I think most Japanese believe he is the one leader who will not kow tow to hostile neighbors. Under his leadership Japan HAS emerged from it's slump.

Their fall guy committed suicide so the focus will be on them. Poll numbers are in free fall. Expect action as they lose more voters, and pressure internally for them to leave. Just a game of what number now

Abe is in super denial though and won't want to leave and may have to be kicked out. I'd imagine an Aso resignation and a party revolt to follow

The biggest scandal of all is that the Japanese Minister of Finance renounces to be present at the g20 finance talks because he needs to stay on top of the lid of Scandal(s) he and his PM are involved in. Thus shaming Japan and its people and denying Japan its correct representation at the G20.  Shamefully selfish and betraying 126 million people.

If companies or citizens submit altered or erased documents to authorities it's a very heavy penalty that everybody knows, but why can authorities can do it dealing with politicians? Isn't this issue penalty to all of those involved?

Alexandre T. IshiiMar. 19 03:27 pm JST

If companies or citizens submit altered or erased documents to authorities it's a very heavy penalty that everybody knows, but why can authorities can do it dealing with politicians? Isn't this issue penalty to all of those involved?

Yes, but in all fairness there can't be any talk of criminal proceedings against Shinzo Abe or Taro Aso unless evidence emerges that proves they were involved. I think all the circumstantial evidence points to them knowing what was going on, though.