What sort of a job do you think Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has done in his first month in office?

Have Your Say Jan. 28, 2013 - 04:42AM JST ( 8 )

Order by Time Order by Popularity

8 Comments

-3

Peter PayneJan. 28, 2013 - 09:09AM JST

Happy to have the LDP back. There'll be nothing but negativity here of course, but the business of Japan is business, and the anti-business governenment of the DPJ, which blocked the success of Japanese companies to help salarimen and their wives (as if they could do much for them while Sharp, Sony, and Panasonic were going down the tubes) was just terrible. At least do something to support the famous companies that represent Japan in the wider world.
5

WakarimasenJan. 28, 2013 - 10:48AM JST

Good for stockmarket and yen exchange rate. But still plenty of risks ahead. Plus the mandatory visit to Yasukuni still looming.....
0

sidesmileJan. 29, 2013 - 03:33PM JST

Good question...signed some letters?...made a start on a couple of books?..who knows..
5

tkoind2Jan. 29, 2013 - 04:37PM JST

We are seeing a temporary bump of over optimism around policies that offer near term benefits but entirely fail to address the long term issues. So enjoy the happy moment while it lasts. We are in 1928 waiting for 1929 to sweep all this roaring optimism away.

Now when and if Abe starts dealing with real long term issues, then I will be ready to support him. But it is more likely that I will become the next prime minister. The LDP had years to make good decisions and failed. No indication that anything has changed.
2

The passageJan. 29, 2013 - 11:58PM JST

What a dumb question. What sort of jo can any Prime Minister or Predisent do for "their country" in the first few weeks of office? Give it a year or two then ask this question. Pointless.

I disagree - Abenomics.

Abe announced with Aso a huge spending plan, designed to boost the economy. It is a huge amount of money. But today, the plan included some detail like cutting the salaries of government workers in Hokkaido, etc by 7%. So this spending plan is a saving plan? Or are the savings going to fund the spending? In which case, it isn't a spending plan is it? Jechan - this is just the first month, wait until they really get started!
2

ThonTaddeoJan. 30, 2013 - 10:05PM JST

Terrible for the exchange rate. The wealth of every saver in Japan has just declined by 15% against the dollar -- in only two months! Exporters may love a cheaper yen, but the average family will suffer because anything that is priced based on the international markets -- energy prices in particular -- are sure to go up.
0

cracaphatFeb. 07, 2013 - 01:06PM JST

What sort of job? Talked tough against China.Browbeaten the BOJ.Talked about his desire to change the constitution. Boosted the stock market and drove down the yen.Don't feel the average person feels so much different,but Big Biz is lovin' it. Tho can his gut last more than a year this time when concrete action is needed for all his smoke and mirrors rhetoric?
0

FarmboyFeb. 08, 2013 - 04:48AM JST

It has been very exciting.