Japan General Discussion

[Lord Halifax]

I know idealogy is a peculiar thing in Japan, but how should we characterise Koike's governing style? Any interesting flagship policies?

Very similar to Shinzo Abe: strong Japanese conservative nationalist/revisionist, strong supporter of women in the workplace (mainly to add to Japanese economic power just like Abe), and supporter of neoliberal economic reforms.

Main difference with Abe is that Abe mostly talks about neoliberal economic reforms but pretty much does nothing since he is still linked to the LDP clientelist machine.   Koike, it seems, is actually trying to tear down the Tokyo LDP political machine and with it a set of neoliberal economic policies.  Of course the Tokyo LDP which right now is led by Ishihara clan which are her deadly enemy makes it easy for her to take on that policy position. 

Despite being very close ideologically to Abe she has a poor relationship with him which eventually lead her to bolt from the LDP.  She seems to be personally a lot closer to her old mentor Ozawa (who used to have policy positions in the 1990s similar to hers but has drifted Leftward over the years) and former LDP PM Koizumi.  Many suspect the Koike rebellion is being backed in the shadows by Ozawa and Koizumi who both have their ax to grind with Abe.

Unclear sentence. Is she trying to "tear down" neoliberalism, or is she in favor of neoliberal reforms?

[Lord Halifax]

Masamichi Adachi, senior economist at JPM Securities Japan Co., says in e-mailed note there is no alternative to Abe. 

Why do you trust an economist on this?