If Japan wanted to tell the world it was going to stage an economic comeback, electing Shinzo Abe Prime Minister might have been the best way to do it.

Yes, most influential person Abe has accumulated over Y14 tril trade deficit in 12 months, it's time for TIME to find another influential person !

What a joke. If Japan wanted to tell the world it wanted to stage an economic comeback, then perhaps Abe was the right choice. But if Japan wanted to accomplish an economic comeback, it's beginning to look like they should have chosen someone else.

Economic contraction and negative growth have now been replaced with... more contraction and neutral growth? and at the cost of how many trillions of yen? Japan has reported it's fourth straight trade deficit. Government debt is 230% of GDP, while cash holdings at domestic banks are 260% of GDP. Once the debt surpasses the assets, interest rates will have to go up, etc. Abe has merely put a bandaid on an economy which is in as shaky condition as Evel Kneivel after a failed motorcycyle jump.

Until the so-called third arrow is put to use, Abenonmics cannot possibly succeed. And it looks like this third arrow has somehow become lost or forgotten. It better be found and shot quickly.

Japan is staging an economic comeback like some has-been actress making a natto commercial is staging an acting comeback.

In the comments made so far, it seems that everyone has reached the same conclusion: Abenomics is a failure.

If so, then I, too, agree. It's getting harder and harder to wade through Abe's flood of economic brainstorms. Just hope an Abe-spurred tsunami doesn't sweep away what little we've got left in our pockets.

Being named influential is not necessarily a good thing or a compliment. Satan himself could win the distinction, uh, if he existed.

I thought he was more intent on telling the world and Asia in particular that Japan was staging a military comeback.