Date: 6 October 2006
Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Venue: Bancom Room, Asian Institute of Management
Japan’s New Prime Minister and His Policy
The recent election of Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzō Abe as the new Prime Minister of Japan brought the world’s anticipation to an end. As a response, the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, together with the Japan Embassy in Manila and the Asia Society Philippine Foundation, Inc. adhere to the advocacy of this historical turnover, thus presenting “Japan’s New Prime Minster and His Policy,” held at the TPIC/ Bancom Room, Asian Institute of Management, last October 6, 2006.
Mr. Katsuyuki Yakushiji, Chief Editor of the magazine, Ronza and a good friend of the new Prime Minister, presents Shinzō Abe the man, the politician and the new Prime Minister. Starting off the lecture, Mr. Yakushiji provides a backgrounder on the new Prime Minster whose popularity and political career lives according to the legacy of his grandfather, former Prime Minster Nobusuke Kishi and his father, 1982-1986 Foreign Minster, the late Shintarō Abe. Apart from this pressure, the new Prime Minster faces demands from internal and external forces, mainly the United States of America, China, and the two Koreas.
His agenda is to stand conservative, a 180 degree turn from former Prime Minster Jun’ichirō Koizumi’s provocative approach. He is one who respects nature, culture and tradition. In this regard, he seeks to handle economic issues by prioritizing growth over reform, which is again the opposite of Koizumi’s reform before growth. As for Abe’s diplomatic policy, no major amendments are to be expected. However, he intends to angle the policy similar to a historical program, answering to the needs and issues of the time. Such a particular need is the restoration of good ties with neighbors, Korea and China, further wounded by Koizumi’s controversial visits to the Yasukuni Shrine. The Shinto shrine in Tokyo preserves the memory of the soldiers who fought on behalf of the Japanese emperor. Japan received raised eyebrows from China and Korea regarding these visits because such were manifestations of the country’s tribute to war victims, including war criminals.
Abe, on the contrary, paid the two neighboring countries a visit as his first overseas trip to establish his peace-restoration agenda instead of the usual United States route. It should also manifest Japan’s independence from the United States in decision-making processes, but will definitely maintain the country’s close relationship with the hegemony. The employment of an ambiguity strategy is the underlying rationale behind the Prime Minister’s latest affairs.
As Dr. Macaranas synthesized the lecture, there is much to look forward to and learn from Japan’s stable political system. In this interdependent world, Japan’s concerns are the Philippines’ concerns, too.
Attendees were composed of the Japanese community in the Philippines, students and professors from the Asian Institute of Management and other Philippine colleges, diplomats, including Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco, Atty. Ricardo Puno and other media practitioners. Distinguished presenters and panelists included Mr. Theo Arnold, Executive Director of the Asia Society Philippine Foundation, who imparted the Opening Remarks; Minister Taeko Takahashi of the Embassy of Japan, for the Introduction of the Speaker; Dr. Federico Macaranas, Executive Director of the AIM Policy Center for the Synthesis; and Japan Ambassador to the Philippines, Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki for the Closing Remarks.
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