EthanWilber comments

It’s theory, and a scary one.

But, there is little reason to his the panic button. If Japan has survived so many natural/manmade disasters in its past. It should be able to endure.

The news for Abe's admin is growing gloomier as the year approachs to its end. This weekend, a poll by Nikkei Inc. and TV Tokyo shows Abe admin’s approval rating has dropped to 48%, and 36% of respondents don’t support Abe’s admin.

With Japan’s economy is on a seemingly downward path, Abe may have difficult time ahead as to revive the rating.

Next consumption tax hike may be a furious battle ground to test Abe’s governing capacity as well as his political survivorship.

It's clear that Chinese regime intends to compete the greenback and American influence in Asia. that said, fow much can it achieve it reminds to be seen.

However, the new Asian bank could go both ways, on positive side, it may stoke a possible regional growth that otherwise never gets a chance in some Asian countires. Right now, EU's economy seems heading back to a possible economic recession so any growth in any parts of the world may help world economy as whole, not to mention to satblize the downward spiral commodity prices.

smithinjapan, Fukuda is just a messenger to deliver a msg for Abe, so don't shoot him. :)

Hopefully, Japan and China can turn a new page next month, and let let bygones be bygones.

“Aso and Zhang chatted for “minutes” on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) finance ministers’ gathering in Beijing, ahead of the forum’s annual summit next month, according to Japanese media. “

Hopefully, minutes may turn hours, and leders from Japan and China wouldbe able to find a common ground to build some peace initiative that could last.

In the case of TPP, Japan does not have luxurious options available when it comes to negotiate with the US. It’s an either-or scenario. Cut the tariffs significantly or be left behind.

Here is the thing: Whitehouse won’t be tricked this time around like last April, so the choice is really in Japan’s hand,

If Japan is ditched from TPP table, the benefiter could be Japan’s nemesis, that would be an irony.

“It is time for all of us to be bold. Incremental steps will not lead us to the high-standard outcome that we all agreed to pursue when we joined the negotiations,”

Well-said! It’s time for Japan to think out of box and take bold steps to move on the negotiation, or else.

Too much time has been wasted, and too little progress has been made from Japan’s end.

The impact of those two female minister’s resignations will give a big blow to already bruised "Abenomics" not to mention his questionable “Womanomics” .

Yes, LDP is still able to stand on the ground at this point in Japan's political arena, but Abe’s admin has been weakened tax hike, controversial state secret law, failed foreign policy and fruitless TPP negotiation ... On top of that, Abe’s himself is losing his credibility both in domestic front and international one. Even Japan’s long-term allies now see Abe under different lens in terms of his ludgment and ability to lead Japan to weather the approaching econimc storm.

Nowadays, Chinese regime seems putting more efforts to build its soft power on the international stage, at least it tries.

The brief and cordial encounter between Abe and Li in Milan might set a precedence/protocal for Abe and Xi at the APEC in China next mouth. Although it’s not really a true summit, it’s better than that both leaders would act like elementary school kids in fount of camera. A quick handshake may give Abe and Xi something to clinch on for the domestic audiences.

As Abe is looking for breakthrough with Xi while Abenomic falters, the US has made some really good headway with China since last month. In fact, this evening Secretary of State John Kerry met China's top diplomat, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, at his Boston home.

Sankei Shimbun newspaper is not an innocent victim as it claims. For instance, It routinely runs articles that target and tarnish Japan’s neighbors, doing the character assassination all the time without shame.

I don’t know why many Japanese hold so much hatred towards Koreans; they call them nasty names and give hate-speech at the bigots march on the streets. It’s very disturbing.

Maybe it’s a good time for Japan to plot an exit contingent plan now to save its face.

Hope there would be no loss of lives this time. In addition, i t won't mess up our Monday's schedules in Tokyo area.

If Kozo Yamamoto, the so called Abenomics architect has been wrong for his preaching all this time, why should Japan’s policy makers listen to him again? Yamamoto has little credibility to back up his advocacy now.

Can someone hush him up for his voodoo economics “Sashimi” ?

It’s necessary to keep pressures on all the times because sooner or later, the external and internal forces would be able to topple the brutal dictator in N.K without spilling American servicemen’s blood.

In N.K’s case, patience is essential element since at some point of time N.K will lose the geopolitical leverage and usefulness; it will collapse or revolve to survive. It’s just matter of time if history can provide us a guild.

@jerseyboy, concur with your point.

I think that Japan’s PMs from lineage of politics families is indeed a troublesome phenomenon. That may, in some way, explain why an inbreeding-orientated Japanese machine have produced a bunch of mediocre and shortsighted leaders who have no aspirations to change the status quo instead busy forming fractions to secure power bases. In other words, Japan’s dwindling track records may be linked to this “insider-trading” genealogy.

@smithinjapan, your assessment has a valid point: Here is the reality, Japan’s political arena is still dominated by LDP nationalistic males. Frankly speaking, although there is a tinge of possibility for Obuchi to be a PM, the likelihood for that to happen would be quite low at this point. On a much larger scale, the traditional Japanese society may be not yet ready for a female leader, either.

Let me draw a parallel line here, Even in the US, a society where the gender equality is way ahead of Japan, the question is still lingering for a female president in America. That was why Hillary Clinton lost her presidential bid in 2008 in which 70.4 million women voted comparing with only 60.7 million men did, and there is still no guarantee for her to win the upcoming election in 2016 either although she appears to be the front runner for democrats right now.

My point is that something that sounds good in polls and media outlets is not necessarily to be abel to translatei into a direct correlation in the election booths. That being said, I would like to see Japan to choose a qualified and visionary leader, female or male, to bring Japan out of slippery slope.

Unfortunately , completely-neutral does not exist. Clearly, Abe is borrowing time for something that is inevitable.

It’s irony, hawkish Abe is becoming a dove so to speak.

"Delaying the tax hike carries its own risks, given the need to control the debt as the rapidly aging population makes budget-balancing ever more difficult. The government promises to balance the budget – net of new bond sales and debt servicing – by 2021, which already looks ambitious."

To be fair, it’s not Abe’s admin that dosed out the tax hike installment plan although Abenomic is more hypes than real deal to begin with.

Abe now is caught between a rock and a hard place. In near term, if he doesn’t go ahead to raise consumption tax as planned, the investors’ confidence will definitely take a nose dive, which will sure be reflected on Japan’s stock indexes. If he has the courage to do it, his political career will be on the line. So it’s a catch-22.

I know for sure that I would be only few in this forum to support the next tax hike in Japan. The rationale of mine goes like this: it’s a bitter, and somewhat necessary medicine as we know it, but in long run, this dose may secure a solid finical foot for Japan to regain strength.

Checho, I respecfully disagree with your asserssion. When you have some time to spend, please dig into Japanese newspaper archives regarding news report and reactions back then about Hiroo Onoda.

Just to emphasize my point, my primary intent was that Japan like its neighbors, S.K, China and Russia, is not complete innocent regarding its past history aspects. It’s better to spend energy and resources on future by not dwelling and agonizing on the past.

No country can change its past, but every country can make a difference on its future if it makes some real efforts.

If Kamikaze pilots who were Japan’s govt organized and sponsored terrorists are still worshiped in the shrines across Japan for their so called ‘patriotism and courage’, then Japan can do much better then point the fingers to S.K.

For people who do not know, when Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese soldier, murder and terrorist return home after hiding in Philippines jungle for 29 years, he received hero’s welcome in Japan.

Please stop being hypocritical and start showing maturity.

Let bygones be bygones, should we?

It’s a mixed bag. On one hand, survey of business confidence improved; but on the other hand, Japan’s industrial output, consumer spending and real wages all fell in August. On top of that Japan’s September PMI (Purchasing Managers' Index )also came down a bit to 51.7 from 52.2 in August.

With falling prices of the commodities around the globe, Japan’s 2% inflation target is in Jeopardy even BOJ is doing its aggressive record level asset-buying spree.

So the conclusion is that the road for Japan’s economy recovery will be bumpy ahead.

Be careful for the charming offenses, Abe might get more than he bargains for.

Regarding to demonstration and protest in Honghong, Japan may need to be wised up without hypes because that’s authoritarian Chinese regime’s sore spot. Besides, during last couple years, decompensations taken place in Egypt, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam all ended in bloodshed. Taking Ukraine for example, it’s sovereignty now is trouble after the months of clashes between police and protestors.

That be said, hopefully, Abe and Xi would meet in Nov. Japan and China can are able to mend the fence and become stable forces in the region.

No leader can live by slogans alone in democratic society, the same holds true for Abe as well. He may be able to temporally raise his rating by hawking nationalistic sentiment or decorating his admin with few female elites or traveling around the world to proclaim ‘Japan is back’ … In the end, it’s the economy that would sway the voters most.

In America, there is a popular saying: “It's the economy, stupid.” Abe needs to take a note on that.

When public debts goes wild and tax bases are eroding, plus a hangover of first installment of tax hike, Abe’s overrated three arrows are rapidly missing the targets.

Hopefully, BOJ will be prudent on its monetary easing and avoid seeding a potentical crisis.

RIP for these unfortunate climbers who lost their lives,hsut at a wrong time and place.

My heart goes to their families suffered in this tragic event.

"A second U.S. official said the Japanese delegation “walked out” of the talks, a charge the Japanese source denied."

What a shame! A country perpetually lives in denial

Here is the deal: If Japan ends up being excluded from TPP, (it’s a big “if” here), the ramification for Japan’s geopolitical and economic stances would be enormous, such impact would further reduce Japan’s bargaining chips at any negotiation tables with its neighbors for year to come.

It’s been shortsightedness that got Japan in today’s declining spot, and letting it continue is irresponsible for Japanese next generation and beyond

Granted, Abe’s diplomatic skillset is limited, which has caused him a bundle. However, with his pleas become more often and more earnest (during his UN trip this year, not a single occurrence, Abe swiped at Japan’s nemesis). It’s possible, he might have a chance to meet Xi in Nov.

Let’s face it, Japan is a weaker and increasingly less relevant player in the world. Even Abe admin’s does not cove in, the future admin(s) would have to accommodate major players’ demands sooner and later. The reality is that not all countries created equal. It’s just facts of geopolitics.

To make peace with China will benefit Japan than the other way aorund in long run.

Apparently, Obama has set a deadline for Japan to Join TPP; that is, by the end of Nov. 2014. If Japan still no intention to put real efforts into the negotiation, then the US may move on without Japan.

Hopefully, Japan would take these two months of time to find a way to Keep the negotiation alive (dropping the childish procrastination once for all).

“I wish to state and pledge… that Japan is a nation that has worked to eliminate the war culture from people’s hearts and will spare no efforts to continue doing so,” Abe said.

Fancy words are just words unless they are followed by actions.

Hedging Hillary Rodham Clinton for next president is like to hedge Yen to do down 120.00 for one US dollar. It’s possible, but it won't be easy ride.

Back to Abe's highly tossed womenomics and gender equality in Japan, lots remind to be seen at this point. Hopefully, some needed reforms will come through from those sound-bite initiatives.

Serious or surreal ? Abe, a nationalist at the core, suddenly becomes an exuberant advocate for women’s rights on the world stage. One must wonder where Abe’s "redemption" would lead him.