Abe: Political heir with skill for surviving scandal

Nov 21, 2019 | News On Japan

Nov 21, 2019 (Japan Today) - Shinzo Abe, who became Japan's longest-serving prime minister on Wednesday, was groomed for politics from birth and has cemented his power with shrewd diplomacy, unwavering nationalism, and a knack for surviving scandal.

At home, he has championed an economic drive that carries his name -- Abenomics -- while abroad he has sought to curry favor with powerful leaders, especially U.S. President Donald Trump.

"Abe's tenure has made Japan an island of political stability even as other advanced industrial democracies have suffered from weak, unpopular, or short-lived governments over the course of the decade," noted Tobias Harris, an analyst at Teneo.

The latest in a long line of politicians -- his father was a foreign minister and his grandfather a prime minister -- he has been criticized at times as arrogant.

But he has also shown the ability to rise from the ashes, reviving his career after a devastating first term in office cut short by political strife and personal illness.

And he has not been above poking fun at himself either, dressing up as Super Mario to give a zany preview of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and scoring mock tries in a video ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

On the international stage, he has worked hard to build a close personal relationship with Trump in a bid to protect Japan's key alliance despite the U.S. president's "America First" mantra.

He famously visited Trump in his glittering New York tower before the tycoon was even sworn in to the White House. The two leaders have since forged personal ties at summits and on golf courses.

Abe has also cozied up to Russia's Vladimir Putin and tried to mend ties with China, with leader Xi Jinping expected on a key state visit next spring.

This year he has burnished his image at major events ranging from the G20 meeting in Osaka to ceremonies for the enthronement of a new emperor.

But he has faced a string of political scandals -- the most recent a cronyism row that forced his government to scrap a long-running annual cherry blossom party.

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