Politics under Shinzō Abe
Since the return to power of the LDP and Shinzō Abe in December 2012, a certain stability seems to be emerging. In July 2016, the parliamentary majority of Prime Minister Shinzō Abe's Liberal Democratic Party emerged strengthened by winning the senatorial elections with a large victory. With regard to defence policy, since the 1960s Article 9 of the Constitution, which provides for Japan to renounce war and maintain a war potential, has been regularly called into question without any real decision being taken. Shinzō Abe takes up the subject, proposing an amendment to Article 9 to increase the country's self-defence capabilities. On 19 September 2015, the Japanese Diet adopts a series of laws that translate into legislation a revision of the constitution by 2020 that goes far beyond participation in collective security actions, notably under a UN mandate. Nevertheless, many voices are opposed to this revision and the emperor's abdication seems to delay the project considerably. On 9 June 2017, the Japanese parliament passed a law authorising Emperor Akihito to leave office and abdicate in favour of his eldest son, Naruhito. The latter acceded to the throne on1 May 2019, marking the beginning of the Reiwa era, or "orderly harmony". While Shinzō Abe obtained the record of longevity at the head of Japan, as Prime Minister, after seven years and eight months, he indicates, on August 28, 2020, his willingness to resign, citing health concerns. He was then 65 years old. On 16 September of the same year, he resigned, replaced by his former government spokesman, Suga Yoshihide, after an emergency election.
Economy
After experiencing a recession from 2008 to 2012, the period of its worst crisis since the Second World War, Japan has been in a recession for several good years, with a surplus in 2015 and 2016. This growth comes in a context of recovery called "Abenomics" (contraction of Abe and economics). The world's third largest economy is experiencing its longest period of growth in thirty years. VAT, which will rise from 5% to 8% in 2014, and the exorbitant costs of the Fukushima disaster are weighing on recovery forecasts. This is now a thing of the past, with exports growing by 11.8% in 2017, driven by miscellaneous machinery, semiconductors, automobiles and the fall in oil and the yen. In the same year, the Japanese economy grew by 1.6% (instead of 0.9% in 2016). In July 2017, Japan concludes an ambitious free trade agreement with the EU. However, this movement is slowing down, as expected growth falls to 0.9% in 2018 and 2019 (instead of 1.5% as expected). The unemployment rate remains low, as the country faces labour shortages in many sectors. On October1 , 2019, Japan's consumption tax is now being reduced from 8% to 10%. The year 2020 will see an unprecedented rebound with the coronavirus pandemic. A colossal aid plan for companies and individuals is put in place. Covid-19 causes a collapse of the country's GDP in the second quarter of 2020 (7.8% compared to the previous quarter). This fall is the largest ever recorded since similar data were introduced in 1980. GDP rebounds at the end of the year with a stronger than expected recovery. As with many other countries around the world, 2021 promises to be crucial for Japan's economic recovery.
Tourism
After a few positive years, the tourist activity has come to a terrible halt following the disaster of March 11, 2011. The accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant had even more devastating effects on tourism than the tsunami. Tourists deserted Japan for a few years and did not return in numbers until 2013. The many regions, which were not hit by the disaster, are seeking to showcase their treasures by participating in numerous international trade fairs and by communicating more emphatically. North Honshu, unfortunately, is going through a long and difficult phase in terms of tourist activity. Japan, which was seeking to reach the symbolic bar of 20 million tourists before the 2020 Olympics, will reach it as early as 2016. It is even the 30 million mark that is exceeded in 2018, and again in 2019. It is quite natural that the government then set itself the target of 40 million foreign visitors for the year 2020, with the Olympics in its sights. Unfortunately, the pandemic, the postponement of the Games to 2021 and the closure of Japan's borders to stem the spread of the virus have dashed all hopes of a historic record.
Environment
Certain ancestral values are part of Japanese culture, such as the fight against waste and living simply, without superfluous. This art of living inspired by the "wabi-sabi" facilitates the deployment of the "zero waste" approach promoted in the country. In addition to this, regulations (selective collection) and awareness-raising must be added. Numerous initiatives are often launched. These include furoshiki or the art of packing with recovered fabrics, tawashi, a sponge made of used fabrics, or oculi, a bamboo ear pick. The Mainichi Shimbun newspaper is made from recycled paper made from water and seeds. The reuse of broken objects is also made possible with the kintsugi technique. But the consumption of plastic, particularly for packaging, is still very high, and efforts must be continued in terms of prevention. Japan intends to promote its zero-waste policy at the next Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, with medals in recycled metals. On October 26, Suga Yoshihide confirmed that Japan has set itself the objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
