I know a bit about the disease Abe suffered from, and there is something heroic about how effective he was in such a demanding job despite it.
Also, noble in resigning when he realized he needed to step away from being a leader to address the disease.
Thanks for this essay made particularly compelling by including your journey of changing your opinion on Abe. Why don't more people understand the power and intellectual integrity of saying, "i was wrong!"
Well said, on many levels. One highlight for me - right after the US presidential election in 2016, Japan went ahead and ratified TPP. Selling TPP took a lot of political capital - going ahead and ratifying it was a powerful display.
You were the first person I though of when I heard the news. Really appreciate reading how you were converted to a fan. I think his legacy will only grow stronger as we recognize just how well he prepared Japan for modern challenges.
I’m happy to see a piece like this amidst a sea of Twitter Lefties who all must have learned Japanese politics overnight before deciding if an assassination in a modern democracy is good
Well written, Noah. What do you think Abe's effect on the LDP was? Do you think he's made it into more of an actual party than a collection of factions animated by nothing more than the desire for power?
To be honest I think he had little effect on that, other than to centralize policymaking in the hands of the cabinet rather than party factions. The person who really transformed the LDP was Koizumi.
Even those born here are ineligible to vote without taking up Japanese nationality. This applies to many second and third generation Koreans, for example.
Like others here, I've benefited from reading your analyses of Abe. The impact of his assassination on me was completely different from what it otherwise would have been. I appreciate this overview.
Having loathed Abe from day one, I basically switched off whenever he was on, and never realised (or appreciated) his transformation. Interesting read - thanks for sharing.
"To many in the Western expat press (which receives FAR too much attention and credibility from people in the West), this settled the matter — Abe was a fascist, the Japanese equivalent of Donald Trump or worse, and nothing he ever did would disabuse them of the notion."
You could write the same for Modi in India or LKY in Singapore or Paul Kagame in Rwanda.
A thoughtful appraisal but the problem is all his efforts on corporate governance reform and structural changes to the economy will probably come to nought. Already Kishida seems to be singing a different tune. And I don't think Westerners quite appreciate how his penchant for historical revisionism regarding imperial Japan has left a bad taste in the mouths of other Asian countries such as South Korea and China, complicating diplomatic efforts in a dangerous part of the world.
I know a bit about the disease Abe suffered from, and there is something heroic about how effective he was in such a demanding job despite it.
Also, noble in resigning when he realized he needed to step away from being a leader to address the disease.
Thanks for this essay made particularly compelling by including your journey of changing your opinion on Abe. Why don't more people understand the power and intellectual integrity of saying, "i was wrong!"
But according to NPR he was a far-right, highly divisive and controversial ultra-nationalist with no accomplishments. Who to believe? 😂
Great retrospective on Abe- thank you.
Well said, on many levels. One highlight for me - right after the US presidential election in 2016, Japan went ahead and ratified TPP. Selling TPP took a lot of political capital - going ahead and ratifying it was a powerful display.
You were the first person I though of when I heard the news. Really appreciate reading how you were converted to a fan. I think his legacy will only grow stronger as we recognize just how well he prepared Japan for modern challenges.
I’m happy to see a piece like this amidst a sea of Twitter Lefties who all must have learned Japanese politics overnight before deciding if an assassination in a modern democracy is good
Those Twitter people are, generally speaking, really bad people who lie constantly.
Very informative, thanks!
We had great success from 1995-2010 hiring women for our CPG business in Japan due to the lack of opportunity at Japanese companies.
Well written, Noah. What do you think Abe's effect on the LDP was? Do you think he's made it into more of an actual party than a collection of factions animated by nothing more than the desire for power?
To be honest I think he had little effect on that, other than to centralize policymaking in the hands of the cabinet rather than party factions. The person who really transformed the LDP was Koizumi.
Do you think Japan will ever turn into a place where switching parties is normal?
Yes, actually. But only once it has enough immigrants for those to become a base for an opposition party. I think that will happen in a decade or two.
Except that immigrants can’t vote (currently) unless they become Japanese nationals.
Correct, I mean the descendants of immigrants
Even those born here are ineligible to vote without taking up Japanese nationality. This applies to many second and third generation Koreans, for example.
Like others here, I've benefited from reading your analyses of Abe. The impact of his assassination on me was completely different from what it otherwise would have been. I appreciate this overview.
Thanks for this moving tribute to both Abe and open-mindedness.
Having loathed Abe from day one, I basically switched off whenever he was on, and never realised (or appreciated) his transformation. Interesting read - thanks for sharing.
Thank you, a great commentary.
Outstanding retrospective. Thanks.
"To many in the Western expat press (which receives FAR too much attention and credibility from people in the West), this settled the matter — Abe was a fascist, the Japanese equivalent of Donald Trump or worse, and nothing he ever did would disabuse them of the notion."
You could write the same for Modi in India or LKY in Singapore or Paul Kagame in Rwanda.
The Moonies did this
A thoughtful appraisal but the problem is all his efforts on corporate governance reform and structural changes to the economy will probably come to nought. Already Kishida seems to be singing a different tune. And I don't think Westerners quite appreciate how his penchant for historical revisionism regarding imperial Japan has left a bad taste in the mouths of other Asian countries such as South Korea and China, complicating diplomatic efforts in a dangerous part of the world.