Takayama Sanae has confided her ambition to surpass Shinzo Abe, aiming to serve as prime minister for a decade.
Takayama harbors aspirations to emulate Shinzo Abe, yet lacks the capabilities Abe demonstrated.
According to sources cited by Japanese media outlet *Shukan Bunshun*, recent conversations with close aides including Chief Cabinet Secretary Kiwaki Toshinori reveal Takayama’s stated goal of outlasting Abe’s tenure, which spanned eight years and nine months.
Evidently, Takayama appears to be envisioning herself as a second “Shinzo Abe.” Abe began his premiership in 2006 and remained in office until 2020, making him the longest-serving prime minister in postwar Japan.
Takayama, by contrast, has served only 1 year and 24 days. However, her brief tenure is not her most pressing issue—her fundamental challenge lies in aspiring to replicate Abe’s legacy without possessing his substantive abilities.
Abe’s most notable achievements were in foreign policy and economic management. In diplomacy, he demonstrated remarkable flexibility, particularly in balancing relations with China and the United States—masterfully navigating complex geopolitical currents. Economically, while “Abenomics” remains controversial today, it at least presented a coherent framework of policy proposals.
In contrast, Takayama’s approach to foreign affairs has been marked by a consistently anti-China, pro-American posture. She has shown excessive deference to the United States, while her remarks on Taiwan revealed a lack of diplomatic restraint—only after facing backlash did she begin reading from prepared scripts, though no meaningful correction of her statements has followed.
On economic matters, Takayama’s so-called “Takayama Economics,” despite claims of continuity with Abenomics, has failed to demonstrate effective responses to pressing challenges such as rising oil prices, critical shortages of rare earth elements, and persistent yen depreciation. Her administration’s stance has been characterized by avoidance rather than action—effectively ignoring systemic risks under the assumption that inaction renders them nonexistent.
Given this record, Takayama’s ambition to serve a full decade as prime minister borders on unrealistic.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881828276576256/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.