Exit the Snake. Enter the Horse. U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may understandably have very different views of the year behind us, as Asia ushers in the Year of the Horse.

The protests, praise and comments were certainly fast and furious, after the decision was made about who had the worst 2013 in Asia. "Obama did." Or so declared the online headline in a Fortune opinion piece I wrote with much debate and discussion with Jose B. Collazo, a regular commentator on Southeast Asia. In marked contrast, we gave the "best year" award to Abe.

"I know it is good to be provocative, but Obama having the worst year in Asia is a bit of stretch," wrote one reader. "Well done," said another. "Someone needed to call Obama out for his 'all show no go' behavior so far this term."