SorryRECENT days have witnessed unusual phenomena in Japan. On January 29th, for the first time in its history, the central bank adopted negative interest rates as a way of dealing with the threat of deflation. Then came the public’s equally striking response to a bribery scandal involving Akira Amari (pictured), the economy minister, who had resigned a day before the bank’s move. The government was braced for a drop in its approval ratings, but instead public support for it rose in three polls, to over 50%. Shinzo Abe, the prime minister, may be wondering at his luck.
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the biggest opposition party, had been preparing to make hay from Mr Amari’s departure—the fourth such scandal in Mr Abe’s cabinet. But the DPJ is still floundering following its defeat in a general election in 2012. It has yet to find a new message that appeals strongly to voters. Its campaign for an election this summer for the parliament’s upper house is not inspiring. “I do not like the DPJ,” one of the DPJ’s posters imagines a voter musing, “but I want to protect democracy.”
Mr Abe’s skilful handling of the...Continue reading
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