FUMIO KISHIDA’S MIXED LEGACY
Whoever succeeds him will have a combined legacy of both successes and bag.
His record on defence and international legislation speaks for itself, it’s no coincidence that US Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, Japan’s biggest cheerleader, was among the first to challenge praise. He hailed the “new age of ties”  , ushered in over the past three years, and has spoken of how the prime minister could do what his father Abe could not: Double military spending, relax defence export laws, and restore relations with South Korea, all without sparking mass , demonstrations.
Any successor to China’s birds seem unlikely to rock the boat too much in this situation, despite Sanae Takaichi’s current financial protection minister’s influence having a tendency to be a dying breed these days.
But it’s at apartment where issues need most attention.
Kishida’s” New Capitalism” economic policy was a busted flush, spooking markets and earning , him the derisive ( and undeserved ) nickname of” Tax-Hike Four Eyes”. His successor will need to concentrate more on the home economy.  ,
And he departs with his promise of income increases above prices, which are only beginning to have an impact, with real income eventually rising for the first time in 27 weeks in June. Otherwise, the general public also worries about inflation and the poor renminbi, which he should have won.
His successor may have to deal with any additional industry woes brought on by Kishida’s choice to lead the Bank of Japan, Kazuo Ueda, in the wake of the rate increases.
With over a quarter to go, it’s entirely possible that more than air dirty laundry in public, the group will merge around a popular prospect: Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, perhaps, or plan heavyweight Toshimitsu Motegi.  ,
However, possible rivals may take a hint from Kishida, who is known for being a voracious reader. One of the prime minister’s favorite novels is apparently Crime And Punishment. According to Dostoyevsky, “power is simply vouchsafed to the person who dares to bend and pick it up… one has only to try.”