The following is an interview with Fujio Mitarai, Chairman and CEO of Canon Inc., that appeared in the 8/20 Sankei Shimbun column, "Lost Issues, Former Prime Minister Abe and Japan."
*All emphasis in black except for the headline and the note below the * are mine.
The driving force behind Japan's rise has been lost.
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had a great dream to revise the Constitution and make Japan a country that can defend itself and in which its people can feel confident and proud.
Since I agreed with many of his ideas and had exchanged views with him many times on the future of Japan, I felt as if the sudden sad news completely darkened my eyes.
When I became chairman of Keidanren in May 2006, the Japanese economy was stagnant due to a prolonged period of deflation.
So the Keidanren put together a set of policies and formulated a long-term plan called "Japan, the Land of Hope.
Mr. Abe, who became prime minister in September, also adopted the slogan "Japan, a beautiful country," I remember being moved and sympathetic to the vision of Japan's future that was depicted in the tagline.
During the five years between the end of the first cabinet and the start of the second cabinet, I met with Mr. Abe on many occasions, both publicly and privately, including golf outings.
During that time, Mr. Abe seemed to have studied much about economic policy, domestic and international political situations, and history.
Based on this knowledge, he steadily implemented policies from the second cabinet onward.
One of his significant achievements from the economic point of view was the monetary policy called "Abenomics," in which he successfully broke the economic stagnation that had been continuing until then, through such measures as the "extraordinary" monetary easing.
The Nikkei Stock Average, which had once fallen below 10,000 yen, has now exceeded 20,000 yen, and the yen's appreciation against the U.S. dollar, which had reached more than 70 yen per dollar, has been corrected.
The Japanese economy has recovered, with the unemployment rate (annual average) at 2.4% in 2008, the lowest level in 26 years, and the ratio of job offers to job applicants exceeding 1:1 for the first time in all prefectures in Japan in 2008.
The Abe administration may be controversial, but the fact that it had won six consecutive national elections, including when it took power while raising the consumption tax twice, is the best proof of the people's absolute trust in the government.
Another outstanding achievement is that Japan has raised its presence in the international political arena.
Japan's postwar diplomacy has been centered on relations with the United States.
Still, Mr. Abe has advocated a "diplomacy that looks around the globe" and has engaged in a series of exchanges with countries of all sizes.
At the same time, he has gained the trust of former U.S. President Trump to the extent that he has become his "advisor" and strengthened the Japan-U.S. relationship.
In other words, he has become one of the world leaders through "diplomacy of another dimension."
As a member of the Keidanren, I accompanied Mr. Abe on his visits to the Middle East and other Asian countries. He spoke passionately about his desire to "develop together with each country" and was welcomed with open arms.
In the diplomatic arena, the unexpected often happens, but he was always smiling and composed in every situation.
I believe that this passion and his wonderful personality were the driving force that brought Japan to where it is today.
*It is clear that Mr. Mitarai hit the nail on the head with his portrayal of Shinzo Abe.
Nevertheless, the people who control NHK's news department, which is not only of dubious background but also has no ideology other than to undermine Japan, have been trying to sway public opinion against Abe by putting, "I don't trust the prime minister's character" as the first item in their frequent polls during his term in office, a grotesque statement.
It is clear that they have continued to lead public opinion to anti-Abe.
Tetsuya Yamagami must have watched countless NHK news programs that continued this despicable act throughout Abe's tenure.
In other words, I have hit the nail on the head when I have been saying that NHK, along with the Asahi Shimbun and others, is the real culprit behind Mr. Abe's assassination. *
Japan has many issues to address, including constitutional reform, investment in advanced technology to revitalize the economy, and the digitization of government administration.
The world is becoming increasingly uncertain with political and economic turmoil, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the death of Mr. Abe, a world leader, at a time like this is a national loss.
(Interviewer: Kiyoshi Takaku)
