Shinzo Abe, Japan's new
Prime Minister, takes office despite having relatively little political experience. He was
appointed to the Cabinet for the first time in October 2005, given the high-profile role
of Chief Cabinet Secretary.
His promotion was seen as a sign that outgoing PM Junichiro Koizumi was grooming him as
his eventual successor.
At 52, Mr Abe became Japan's youngest prime minister since World War II.
In many ways, Mr Abe is a man in Mr Koizumi's image - telegenic, outspoken, and with a
similar popular appeal to voters.
But some fear he will more hawkish on foreign policy matters, and Japan's relations with
China and South Korea could further deteriorate under his premiership.
Sanctions call
A conservative, Mr Abe has pushed for policies that include a revision of Japan's pacifist
constitution, teaching of patriotism in schools, a more assertive foreign policy and a
close alliance with the US.
He has also been unapologetic over Japan's behaviour in WWII, and supported Mr Koizumi's
controversial visits to the Yasukuni war shrine - although whether he will carry on those
visits remains to be seen.
Despite this, his aides say they are working hard to arrange summit talks with China's
President Hu Jintao in a bid to repair ties.
Mr Abe's view on economic policy is less clear. He has supported Mr Koizumi's market
reforms but is under pressure within his party to close the widening gap between rich and
poor.
The new prime minister was born in Nagato, Yamaguchi prefecture, into a high-profile
political family.
He is the son of Shintaro Abe, a former foreign minister, and grandson of former prime
minister Nobusuke Kishi, who was arrested as a suspected war criminal after World War II
but never charged.
Mr Abe graduated in political science from Seikei University before studying politics at
the University of Southern California.
His first job on returning to Japan was at Kobe Steel, before winning his first seat in
the Diet in 1993, representing his home prefecture of Yamaguchi.
He went on to become deputy Cabinet secretary, and then secretary-general of the ruling
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 2003.
Last year, 55% of voters said in a poll they supported Mr Abe to become the next prime
minister.
His popularity has partly been due to his outspoken views on North Korea.
He has pushed for Pyongyang to come clean on Japanese citizens it is believed to have
kidnapped, and has called for sanctions against the secretive state - something Mr Koizumi
himself shied away from. |
