Korean Job Discussion Forums

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his resignation Wednesday at a news conference in Tokyo after serving one year in office.

Prime Mininster Shinzo Abe drops his head as he listens to questions during a press conference on Wednesday.

"A short while ago I informed officials about my intentions to resign," Abe said, underscoring the need to "be careful not to create a void in the political leadership."

The prime minister said Japan should try to have a new leader "as soon as possible ... even today if possible."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/09/12/abe.resign/index.html

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

good. he was truly incompetant.

Alyallen · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 12:46 am Post subject:

Alyallen · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:17 pm Post subject:

Update...

Outgoing Japan PM Abe admitted to hospital: media

TOKYO (Reuters) - Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been admitted to hospital, media said on Thursday, a day after the leader suddenly announced he would resign.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano said earlier that Abe was being examined by doctors and depending on the result, may be hospitalized.
Kyodo news agency said Abe was feeling unwell but did not specify what the ailment was.

Abe, who took office a year ago pledging to raise Japan's global security profile, said he was quitting in the hope that a new leader could resolve a deadlock over a naval mission supporting U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan.

But senior officials cited health problems as one reason for his decision.

nautilus · Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!

What a quitter!

I don't think he had enough vision or drive.

Interestingly, his wife idolises Korean men, (although she has never met one). She thought they were sexy after watching korean dramas.

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I don't think Abe lacked "vision", at least by the standards of Japanese politics. Not to say all or even many Japanese share that vision. Certainly, Abe a) managed to get some real pinheads in his cabinet and b) had a tough act to follow in the unusually popular "rock star" Koizumi.

The greatest tool of a Japanese PM in recent years was Mori, who also served for one year (at the start of the decade). Unlike Abe, he had been under intense pressure to quit(even from within the LDP). His greatest gem was at a G-8 summit where he decided it was his time to try his English. Problem was, his "How are you?" as he greeted Clinton turned into "Who are you?". Bill, not missing a beat, said "I'm Hillary's husband." Laughing

In any case, Japanese PMs tend to serve short terms. Koizumi's five years in office is a rarity. I think only Yoshida and Nakasone also had relatively long times in office in post-1945 Japan.