However, here the successes were less substantive and more about presentation consistent with the Abe administration's focus on messaging and delivery as well. Despite all these notable achievements, Abe's public standing in 2019 suffered a heavy blow after setting an unpopular sales tax hike from 8% to 10% in 2019. Similarly, a series of damaging corruption scandals, partial achievements related to the promise of "womenomics", and in the face of the Covid-19 crisis as well as related disappointments from the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (Susanti, 2022).
Shinzo Abe decided to resign after receiving news that his ministers and cabinet had the lowest acceptance rate since 2012. Without a doubt, Abe left the political scene deeply disappointed for not achieving some of his major political ambitions, especially on constitutional revision and territorial dispute settlement, including negotiations with Russia over the post-World War II Northern Territories (Susanti, 2022).
After Shinzo Abe's exit from Japanese politics, the Japanese political scene will remain relatively stable in the short term, as the Liberal Democratic Party is safely in power given the party's majority in both houses of Japan's parliament and the absence of a formal obligation to hold general elections until the fall of 2021. Abe's practical and incremental successes are also consistent with the Liberal Democratic Party's political tradition and offer the safest and least politically controversial foundation for any future leader, who will need to rebuild trust, and expand support from non-ideological Japanese voters in the future. While Abe's aspirations are, at best, his nationalist ambitions partially realized, his pragmatic achievements will likely be his most lasting legacy (Susanti, 2022).
Shinzo Abe also has a good relationship with former US President Donald Trump. It can be seen when Shinzo Abe met Donald Trump when Trump became President-elect in November 2016 which made him the first foreign leader to meet with the former US President, none other than the purpose is to prioritize the US-Japan alliance. Trump withdrew the United States from the Trans Pacific Partnership, a proposed trade agreement with 11 other Pacific nations after Trump threw Abe a curve ball in 2017. Japan took the lead in drafting a successor agreement that did not include the United States (Kwan & Jett, 2022).
Abe was also a driving force in the rise of the Quad, an informal security group consisting of Australia, India, Japan and the United States, as he sought to promote American involvement in the Indo-Pacific region. His efforts to make Japan a stronger presence in global affairs and his nationalism at home have earned Abe much criticism (Kwan & Jett, 2022).
So many contributions made by Shinzo Abe in politics in Japan. Especially in advancing the Japanese economy when he twice served as Prime Minister of Japan. Although there are many controversial treatments by Abe, this is only a political image. May Shinzo Abe rest in peace.Â
Arigato.
Footnotes:
Hee Lee, M. Y., & Inuma, J. M. (2022, July 7). Japan Shinzo Abe Shot Nara Attack. Retrieved from Washingtonpost.com: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/07/japan-shinzo-abe-shot-nara-attack/
Kwan, R., & Jett, J. (2022, July 8). Shinzo Abe was an undeniably dominant if divisive figure in Japan's modern history. Retrieved from nbcnews.com: https://www-nbcnews-com/news/world/who-was-shinzo-abe-biography-former-japanese-leader-assassinated-rcna37233?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=id&_x_tr_hl=id&_x_tr_pto=sc
Pletcher, K. (2022). Biography Abe Shinzo. Retrieved from Britannica.com: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Abe-Shinzo
