Since returning to power, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been remarkably active in his attempts to strengthen Japan. Devoid of a serious opposition, and with limited dissent inside the Liberal Democratic Party, he has had a comparatively free hand to pursue his agenda. What has Abe done with all of this political capital?
Abe's policies have been directed toward "normalizing" Japan's defense and military posture, reinvigorating the ailing economy and advancing his conservative agenda at home. While Abe has been exerting great energy in pursuing many of his goals, the great tragedy of his prime ministership is that it may instead go down as one of the most significant missed opportunities for modern Japan. Abe might be on track for outlasting the life of most Japanese prime ministers, but one must wonder whether longevity will end up ranking amongst his greatest achievements.
Until recently, Abe had garnered most attention for his seemingly ambitious economic policy, dubbed "Abenomics," although "Kurodanomics" would be a more accurate title, considering it is the head of the Bank of Japan who has done most of the work so far. Almost all analysts agree that Abenomics has suffered from a lack of serious movement with the "third arrow" — structural reform.