What is Shinzo Abe’s legacy?
Japan’s longest-serving prime minister has resigned due to health problems.
The surprise resignation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent shockwaves through the country’s political establishment.
The 65-year-old quit citing health reasons related to ulcerative colitis, a chronic bowel disease he has lived with since he was a teenager.
Abe apologised to the Japanese people and said he did not want his illness to get in the way of decision-making.
Described as a nationalist, he has struggled to introduce aggressive economic reforms.
So how far has he succeeded? And how will Japanese remember him?
Presenter: Adrian Finighan
Guests:
Tomohiko Taniguchi – Special adviser to Abe’s cabinet and professor at Keio University
Lauren Richardson – Director of studies at Australian National University’s Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy
David Leheny – Professor of Japanese politics at Waseda University