Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 23
Japan's Takaichi Vows to Carry On Abe's Vision 4 Years After His Assassination
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 23

Japan's Takaichi Vows to Carry On Abe's Vision 4 Years After His Assassination

2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 23

Summary

  • Four years after Shinzo Abe was assassinated, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi bowed before his portrait in Tokyo and pledged to continue the slain leader’s nationalist vision.
  • Nine months into office, Japan’s first female prime minister has repeatedly invoked her mentor in major speeches to shore up support for her agenda.
  • Takaichi told a gathering of right-wing politicians, activists, journalists and business leaders that she still imagines Abe in the prime minister’s office and wants to be a “fighter politician” like him.
  • The tribute underscores how Abe’s legacy remains a central political asset for Takaichi as she seeks to advance a more nationalist course in Japan.

Insights

With her approval slipping, can Takaichi's nationalist agenda survive Japan's economic anxieties?
Does Japan's nationalist turn risk its post-war identity for perceived national strength?
How will Takaichi’s assertive nationalism, built on Abe's legacy, reshape Indo-Pacific alliances?