Does Shinzo Abe love soldiers who died during World War II more than Japanese living today?

The question might sound disrespectful. But I can't help asking it as I survey the placards at anti-government rallies commemorating the third anniversary of the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami, which left almost 20,000 people dead or missing and erased entire towns. "Abe is AWOL," says one. Another: "Nationalism Doesn't Create Jobs!" The one that moved me most was carried by a 30-something mother wearing a "No Nukes" T-shirt: "My Kids Still Can't Play Outside."

After 1,095 days, untold billions of dollars of public expenditures and countless pledges to accelerate rebuilding efforts, radiation is still leaking at Fukushima. Only 3.4 percent of planned public-housing projects are close to being completed.