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December 13th, 2024 | 2:27 PM ET

Abe's Abyss

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Posted: June 19th, 2016

By Nancy Snow

Dr. Nancy Snow is the Pax Mundi Professor of Public Diplomacy at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. She was an Abe Fellow at Keio University and Fulbright Professor at Sophia University, both in Tokyo, Japan.

Shinzo Abe is one of the most successful prime ministers in Japanese history if we measure success by longevity alone. His first term in office lasted just one year (2006-2007), but he returned triumphantly in December 2012 and has been the brand face for Japan’s revitalization ever since. The trouble is, Japan has yet to jump start its economy. It has lingered in a constant state of hanging on, not a good sign for a country four years from hosting its second Summer Olympics in over 50 years.

In late May, Abe hosted the G7 Summit at Ise-Shima. His personal approval rating after that Summit jumped to 56 percent, based largely on two facts. First, nothing bad happened at the G7. The security presence was over-the-top for a country that prides itself on peace, safety, and a low level of police or military presence (outside of U.S. forces). There were no arrests, and there was no violence. 

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