Japanese voters will go to the polls later today in a snap election called by Prime Minster Shinzo Abe. Economic issues will once again be central to the outcome, as Abe seeks a mandate to lift the local economy out of yet another recessionary period. Energy generation and national defence are also on the agenda, as Abeās administration aims to restart Japanās nuclear power program and tries to addressĀ ongoing territorial disputes with China.
Shinzo Abe kicks off his campaign with a pledge to rebuild the economy, expand the military, and reopen nuclear power plants
Economy:
Japanās economy has slumped back into recession, and economic issues remain the biggest problem faced byĀ many voters. Of particular concern are living standards and theĀ cost of living, which have been adversely affected by the economic slump. Locals in Osaka have told The Typewriter that there is great uncertainty and general fear relating to theĀ consumption tax, which will increase the cost of living and which Shinzo Abe has now promised to raise by 2017. Prime Minister AbeĀ has called this election as aĀ litmus test to see if heĀ canĀ build a mandate for postponing such an increase; indeed, heĀ remains adamant that an increase from 5% to 8% will derail any hopes of robust growth in the Japanese economy.
Nuclear Power:
In the wake of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami-related incident at the Fukushima reactor, nuclear power has become another key issue at this election. ShinzoĀ Abe has vowed to bring almost all of Japanās reactors back online ā including a reactor in the Sendai region hardest hit by the 2011 natural disaster ā which has only exacerbated ongoing fears amongst locals about the perceived dangers of nuclear power generation.
Defence and foreign relations:
Japan has historically had a complicated relationships with its close neighbours China and South Korea. A controversial reinterpretation of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution put many of its neighbours on edge, with surrounding governments concerned over the idea of a militarised Japan. The reinterpretation allows for the use of collective self-defence, and for Japanese self-defence personnel to join and assist allied forces where necessary.Ā Historical tensions between Japan and its neighbours have weighed heavily Abeās response to what he has deemedĀ aĀ ārapidly changing security environmentā, and with opponents criticising manyĀ of Japanās recent policy maneuvers in defence and foreign relations, Abe has turned this election into a referendum onĀ whether toĀ stay the course.
Japan once again finds itself at a crossroads.Ā Can Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gain the mandate he needs toĀ reinvigorate Japan?
The TypewriterĀ has been speaking to voters across the country, and those key issues of defence, power generation and the economy have been constant themes across much of the electorate. One man summarised it thus:
āWherever you go in the country they say the same thingā¦ our way of life is changing. Whichever leader they elect there will be changes to the economy and diplomacyā
From the urban conglomerationsĀ of Osaka and Tokyo, to the regional cities of Odawara, it is clear that many Japanese voters are concerned about the economy, about the risks of nuclear power, about their plans for an expanded military presence, and about the ongoing territorial disputes with China. Although a change of government is highly unlikely, voters will stillĀ have their say onĀ Japanās future and the uncertainty they face over theĀ next four years. Today they will demonstrate theirĀ level of confidence inĀ Shinzo Abeās planĀ for that future.