September 12, 2006. Copyright 2006, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Shinzo Abe likely to succeed Koizumi as JapanÕs next prime minister
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, September 12, Graphic News:  If, as widely expected, Shinzo Abe becomes JapanÕs next prime minister, he is likely to direct his country further towards the global centre stage. Top of this agenda would be tightening TokyoÕs ties with Washington and boosting its military presence overseas. WhatÕs not so clear is what he has in store for his Asian neighbours waiting in the wings.

Abe is widely tipped to beat rivals Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki on September 20, when Liberal Democrats vote for a party chief to replace Junichiro Koizumi. The Chief Cabinet Secretary is favourite to win the polls, which would virtually guarantee him the top job when Koizumi resigns 10 days later.

In announcing his candidacy, Abe, 51, made clear that he would carry on work begun by Koizumi to steer Japan away from its pacifist constitution, saying: ÒWe need a new constitution that fits better for how Japan should be in the 21st centuryÓ. At the heart of his proposed changes is a plan to upgrade the defence agency to an independent ministry, entitling it to more funds and enabling Japan to play a bigger role in global conflicts.

The soft-spoken, stylish Abe, who is considered heir apparent -- if a less charismatic figure -- to Koizumi, would become his countryÕs youngest prime minister. He appeals to younger MPs and voters, and would return patriotism to the nationÕs classrooms as part of his drive to forge a new sense of national self-esteem among younger generations. He supports a group that favours rewriting school history textbooks to remove overly critical references to Japanese atrocities in World War II, claiming they are unsubstantiated.
 
In his recently published book, Beautiful Nation: Towards a Japan with Confidence and Pride, Abe outlined his vision of a country that must cease to punch beneath its economic weight, and called for a Japanese security force modelled on the CIA. This vision has been honed during an impressive if unremarkable career rooted in a political dynasty.

Born on September 21, 1951, Abe is the son of former foreign minister Shintaro Abe, and grandson of former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, who was arrested as a war crimes suspect but never charged. After gaining a political science degree at Seikei University, Abe studied politics in southern California before working for a while at Kobe Steel.

His first foray into politics was as aide to his foreign minister father. Upon his death
in 1991, Abe won record votes to become MP for the first district of the Yamaguchi Prefecture. Since then he has added director of the social affairs division, deputy chief cabinet secretary and, since October 2005, chief cabinet secretary to his portfolio. 
 
In his present job, he came to prominence in 2002 for his strong support of families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean spies in the 1970s and 1980s. A consistently tough stance towards Pyongyang has won him support among fellow conservatives but led to fears that Tokyo could endanger delicate regional relations. In July Abe led calls for a UN resolution to condemn North Korea for conducting ballistic missile tests.

But perhaps the greatest thorn in regional relations is the issue of visits to a controversial nationalist shrine. Abe is reported to have followed in KoizumiÕs footsteps in paying his respects to war dead, including convicted war criminals, at the Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo. The visits have enraged China and Seoul, with Beijing even refusing to hold a summit in protest. Abe has not said whether or not he will continue to visit the shrine, but has said he wants to improve ties with his neighbours, though the efforts must Òbe mutualÓ.

That may be so, but few would guess that such priorities are top of his Òto doÓ list.
/ENDS