CALIF. — These days, when a Japanese prime minister resigns, the temptation is to say just two things. One is "ho," and the other is "hum."
Since the early 1990s, more Japanese politicians have crawled up to the heights of — and then been bumped off — the prime minister's throne than even the Japanese people themselves can count. The one standout was Junichiro Koizumi, who made it through more than five years and kick-started national economic reform. He left behind an image as the most dashing Japanese figure since the last time you saw a gleaming new Lexus effortlessly run a yellow light.
By contrast, alas, his failed successors — Shinzo Abe and now Yasuo Fukuda — ambled along as if they were constantly running out of gas.